Heroes Not Zombies

There are three great historic structures in Stirling, the town of my birth. The castle, the Wallace Monument and Stirling Bridge. This photo shows the latter two.

I don’t know if it’s because I grew up with the bridge that I find bridges so attractive but I suspect its presence played a part.

Stirling has always been a crossing point, from East to West, and across the river from South to North. I think that’s embedded a number of values in my psyche – a desire to meet others, make new connections, to travel and to say “and not or”.

For me bridges are powerful connectors. They open up the ways we can expand our experience and develop our lives. They are an invitation to increase diversity and to build new relationships.

Walls keep the inside inside and the outside out. Whilst they provide necessary boundaries and defence, they are used to create enclosures….closed, not open, “or” not “and”.

We build bridges between ourselves and others. They open us up to différence and novelty.

I think we can always benefit from more bridges!