I had one of those funny little moments on my bike today. A ‘moment of clarity’, as some like to call them.
Exiting a roundabout, and trying to make eye contact with car drivers to make sure they weren’t about to pull out in front of me, it struck.
There I was, breathing in the air, inhaling the world. Early morning sun lightly warming my back, and a slight tailwind gifting me forwards. Each pedal stroke drives the clock forwards and with it, I’m tuned to the constant yet subtle changes all around.
A full participant in planet Earth, with no filters in the way except my own limited biology. Sure, insects can see ultra-violet and dogs can hear several kilohertz above our range, and whales can hold their breath for an hour, but in that moment, the full human experience.
All senses blazing, and a heart rate to match. Fully engaged in Life 1.0. No time for beta testing.
By contrast, these strange creatures in highly evolved transportation devices, cocooned in metal, plastic and glass. Isolated, insulated, disconnected.
Senses dulled, or replaced by repetitive mind-programming of commercial radio stations, and the chemical stink of products laughingly called air “fresheners”.
Got to get to work on time. Rats in the race. Did you see Strictly last night?
These are the folks who get stuck in traffic jams on the way to the gym to ride stationary bicycles.
The wool has been seductively slipped over their aviators. Consume. More. Not good enough, gotta beat the neighbours.
It was all a bit like that part in the Matrix where Neo wakes up and sees the bodies in all their little tanks, and realises it’s all been fake.
A moment of recognition both of how far we’ve come, and how lost we’ve managed to get along the way.
Anyway, that was my ride in.
How was your drive? Traffic busy?
Did you see X-factor at the weekend?