About
About James
In 2012, I moved from my home country of Scotland to Dubai with little more than two suitcases. It was one of the best decisions I made. I met people from nearly every corner of the world, took up photography and running, saw a lot more of the planet, gathered a little more wisdom, and created a lot of experiences and memories I’ll always treasure.
Just recently, I made another move, this time from Dubai to Murcia, Spain. This move was for different reasons. With a view to the next decade and what I’d like that to look like, Murcia’s slower pace of life, strong sense of community, and beautiful, natural surroundings felt pretty good. Now that I’m even more focused on writing, having the right environment is everything.
Deep Life Journey, which I created in 2022, has naturally evolved from solely a place for my writing and photography to somewhere I also offer my professional services. They are all connected by the philosophy of Deep Life Journey: a commitment to living more deliberately.
That feels even more important to me now.
I’ve always had a strong focus on sports and health.
Inspired by my grandfather, who was a professional footballer for Leicester City, I’ve followed a lifelong passion for sport, especially football and running. As an ambassador for ASICS and a three-time marathon finisher, I promote the philosophy of “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano”, which means “a sound mind in a sound body.”
This philosophy became even more crucial in December 2023, when I underwent open-heart surgery to replace a severely damaged heart valve. I wrote about my experience and recovery. I’ve always been grateful for my health, and never more so than today.
I also love films and documentaries, playing my acoustic guitar and writing songs, photography, world history, art, music, and reading. I aim to read three books a month, mixing up fiction and non-fiction.
I enjoy visiting places that inspire me, deep conversations, and helping others wherever I can through my coaching, writing, and friendships.
Whether you’re interested in working together or simply want to follow along through my essays and photography, I invite you to spend some time exploring Deep Life Journey.
Feel free to drop me a message if you see something that interests you.
James
The best 3 books I’ve read recently:
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser
Post Office by Charles Bukowski
The best 3 films I’ve watched recently:
My Dinner with Andre by Louis Malle
Marty Supreme by Josh Safdie
Sound of Metal by Darius Marder
The best 3 documentaries I’ve watched recently:
Hoop Dreams by Steve James
The Fog of War by Errol Morris
Turning Point: Generation 9/11 by Brian Knappenberger
The 3 things I want do in the next 12-24 months
Walk the Camino de Santiago
Publish a book
Become fluent in Spanish
Read My Latest Deep Life Reflections Essays
Explore the Deep Life Library
Deep Life Journey is home to my creative work: a philosophy for living more deliberately, essays drawn from cinema, literature, and culture,
and photography framed by more than a decade of craft.
Deep Life Paths
Living with more intention,
depth, and craft.
Deep Life Reflections
Essays drawn from cinema, literature, and culture.
Deep Life Photography
Visual stories framed by
more than a decade of craft.
Earlier Writing, 2021-2024
A selection of 20 articles written before Deep Life Reflections, originally published in Arabian Business.
Explore Earlier Writing
Some experiences can’t be made reasonable or coherent. The task of the writer is to find the form honest enough to capture that incoherence.