I named this blog “heroes not zombies” because we humans have a tendency to go about the world on autopilot. As we walk through the day the thoughts which fill our heads are often ones from the past or the future. We go over what people said or did, recall events and circumstances which made a big impact on us….even the ones which seemed quite inconsequential to others. And we go over and over what might lie ahead and worry about it. All these thoughts squeeze out our attention to the present. I’m sure you’ve had that experience of traveling from one place to another, maybe even driving a car, only to arrive and realise you were so preoccupied with something you are surprised you’re at your destination already.
There’s something else which prevents us from experiencing the here and now. We become habituated. We are creatures of habit and when we stay within the bounds of the familiar we have a tendency to become oblivious to the detailed differences of the every day.
And there’s another thing. People who want power over others, whether that be politically, socially or commercially, pressurise us to conform and be compliant. Difference is singled out as a negative and suppressed. Governments, institutions, authorities, corporations want to control us a mass. The Romans did that through the provision of “bread and circuses”, but maybe now its “sugar and screens”.
Living in a zombie-like autopilot submissive way means we lose touch with reality. Reality is the here and now. Reality is uniqueness. Reality is diversity. Reality is freedom, opportunity and change.
The alternative is to become the authors and main characters, or heroes, of our own life stories. We can co-create our daily reality and claim this one wild and special life as our own.
OK, so how did I get all that from that photo today?
The other day I was walking a route I’ve walked thousands and thousands of times over a lifetime. It’s autumn here in the northern hemisphere and the colours of the leaves on the trees this year is particularly eye catching. In fact I think to walk amongst trees is one of the best ways to draw yourself and your attention into the here and now. So I was stopping every now and again and taking a photo. Then, I don’t know quite why, but I looked up from the base of a tree towards the sky and took this photo.
It wasn’t just the colours which caught my eye, it was the shape and form of the branches. As I look at it now my imagination kicks in and I’m more and more convinced I just managed to glimpse the legs of one of the spirits of the forest as they leapt over my head in the canopy of the trees.
Well, I did say my imagination had kicked in……
Heroes Not Zombies 
Sir Winston, from our blog “Gilmours Nice Place”, says that he finds it logical that human beings should want to stay “within the bounds of the familiar” because “the known” is a comfortable place. He adds that many would seem to sooner “stick with the familiar” and be sad or dissatisfied than to give themselves a chance to be happy in the unknown. He thinks it all boils down to humans being afraid of the unknown (although most wouldn´t admit to such a fact). Victimhood modus is certainly a sign of the times.
Mr Midnight says that “freedom” requires self-responsibility and from his observations from under the hedge, that doesn´t seem to be what “modern” human beings are all about.
I myself believe that life can only be lived “in the moment” and that WE CREATE our OWN worlds.
Sir Winston would like to add the quote; “You can´t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future”.
Meow, purr purr and kind regards out of the magical Black Forest. 🙂