A deserted industrial park might not seem like the most obvious place to find a state of zen, but that’s precisely the state Evan experienced as he ambled through the now overgrown paths that traced their way through a place he called BC. The world wasn’t deserted but this particular place at this particular time made it feel so.
The 10am Sun sat proud upon the Sycamore. For the best part of two years the seemingly un-moving position of this tree relative to the track of the sun became something of a point of wonder for Evan. If the tree remains still, then I can watch the sun move, he had not yet felt the Earth move.
The once manicured lawn behind the tree was now overgrown, an acre of landscaped garden that once set the standard for a new generation of workers. Built in the 1990’s, this park – a technology park, boasted unusual buildings, trees, paths, and even a fire suppression system disguised as a wildlife pond. Truly visionary. It had to set a high standard, it was the first of a new generation of Industry that had to compete with other counties to stop the brain drain of the youth. The option to stay home had to be as good as the option to join the many generations who took to the waves.
A thought entered Evans mind, the kind that seeks to keep what appears to be good. I should really get someone to maintain this grass he thought. At the conception of this thought there was no other intention in Evans mind other than perhaps honoring the original standards that were already set. There was no obvious negativity, what could possibly go wrong? Nothing it seemed, the spark of thought was merely an ember, there was no burst of energy, no light-bulbs were lit, yet deep in the recesses of nature, change had already begun.
Being the proactive type Evan set about finding the right authority, the knob that could be twisted to make things happen. There’s always a fulcrum he thought, so let me find it and let me leverage it. Archimedes made it very clear that to reduce the work you need the correct fulcrum and the correct lever. Being savvy with finding information Evan quickly narrowed down the authority and then the person that could make change, change as simple as cutting the grass. The second part of Evans task was to find the lever upon which this point of change could swing. These guys don’t work of poetry, he thought, they don’t see the foxes and rabbits. They work of paper, reports, checklist and most of all the ultimate checkbox, rules. Find the rules, get the grass cut. Easy.
What kind of rules do the holders of the clipboards fear thought Evan? While not looking to instill fear into anyone, Evans was acutely aware that the fear already in us is the driver by which we work. Wow realised Evan, this is really powerful stuff, this is how the legal system works, by leveraging fear. Fear of loss of your job, your home, fear of loss of you freedom perhaps? Realising the power of this mechanism of change, this lever, Evan made a mental note to use it carefully and wisely. “You cannot know yourself, or what you’d really do…. with all your power” the Flaming lips, Yeah Yeah Yeah song played in his head.
Getting back to the task at hand Evan asked, What is it that provokes their fear,threatens their sense of security?
Oh! Good old health and safety, the rules that keep us safe by wrapping us in cotton wool, Evan smiled ironically, the rules he found the most bland were the obvious softplay lever for this job.
Dear Sir, please come cut the grass it’s safe now but someone might trip on this fallen branch. Easy, effective, no-one gets hurt – or too afraid, QED. The rather quick reply surprised Evan, first try, a reply, a commitment to act, a result! Wow, thought Evan, that’s a pretty good leverage formula. I though Archimedes was just referring to lifting things, but now that I think of it, he did say he could move the world with it.
As the days passed in BC the wonderland the one finds when one seeks, unfolded for Evan. The seemingly unending park constantly revealed new vistas, new paths new places where it seemed that not a soul had set foot for a long time. Where once was the frantic energy of coming, going, walking, running, driving, worrying – now only existed the wind. There is no gift greater than space and the awareness of being in it. As time went by the 10am Sun drifted further south of the Sycamore, nature in it’s reflective cycle grew the trees, produced the leaves bloomed the flowers and warmed the air. The smallest of natures creatures were now in full flow, harvesting and humming the air with the vibration of a billion wings.
In the middle of the year, Litha (meaning ‘the light’) Julys’ rays beat down on Evan. The hot air, the hot ground like a warm embrace presents the world in high resolution. Far off heat ripples rise from every surface, sounds carrys long distances – waves floating on a warm currents, each a tiny piece of information of a larger story. Oh to be here now thought Evan . The profound nature of presence a gift, a place where time does not exist. Only opening and experiencing had allowed Evan to learn this. Now it was a practice – in a place where the practice was made easy. As days became months the awareness of the ever changing nature around Evan became a gift, mighty oaks bloomed in his presence, rabbits danced, foxes prowled, buzzards rode the helter skelter of warm currents as they surveyed all.
On a warm afternoon Evan turned the corner onto the acre which he previously admired as the green lawn needing maintenance. His mouth dropped and his lungs inhaled a gasp of awe as a golden meadow spread out before him. A gentle south westerly bent the tops and fragments of nature floated upon the breeze. Such a sight he had never beheld. Surveying the the long golden grass which moved like the sea, the memories of the once green lawn now seemed sterile, like a golf-course. Nature had changed and maturity had produced beauty.
Evan strolled through the long grass towards the tree that graced its centre, the soft ripe seeds topping the meadow brushed his legs, the breeze cooled his skin. Beneath the tree saplings and flowers grew in its shade, birds perched its branches and sang. Wow though Evan, this is truly beautiful. I have not seen such a sight since I was a boy, I had forgotten this, I had forgotten how beautiful a meadow is. For the next few days Evan visited the meadow, now that he was aware of it’s presence he noticed the other places that were in meadow. The entire building at it’s center now took on a new look, the old girl now looked almost stately. It’s pyramidal roof a crown, it’s large red brick walls hunkered into the wild landscape. It’s large windows reflected the trees, and the grass now surrounded it like an embrace. Evan had never seen a sight where a modern creation of humanity sat so perfectly into a nest made by nature.
The Sun had now passed far south of the Sycamore and with it came the Autumn. Evan walked his merry way into the BC morning and stood as usual to note their position. Behind the tree the sight of a very yellow lawn stretch out before him. Another gasp another jaw drop, but this time it was at the realisation that what he was looking at was a cut meadow. Large clumps of grass scattered the paths, tracks of mowers not designed for cutting meadows zigged zagged all over. Not a blade was left standing, just grass left to rot into the ground. The tree in the middle stood exposed, the flowers the saplings, the rabbits, the birds all with the same fate, gone. Oh what have I done thought Evan. I did not intend this, I didn’t see, I didn’t know. His leverage worked. You cannot know yourself, or what you’d really do…. with all your power.
The text was generated using the Authors Brain
The last 2 images Images were generated using https://nvlabs.github.io/Sana/
Video generated using https://klingai.com/
Prompt:
- **Location**: An disused industrial park in the Irish countryside.
- **Environment**:
- Surrounded by native trees including oaks, ash, and some evergreens.
- A golden grass meadow extends around the area, touching the building.
- the area looks overgrown and neglected.
The meadow grass is tall.
- **Building**:
- Modern design from 1990s with red brick and glass, two stories tall.
- glass roof which is around 2 meters to the top point.
- the building is seen from a 45degree angle perspective.
- Positioned in the middle to background, enveloped by foliage.
- **Weather/Time**:
- It's a warm, sunny autumn day, around mid-afternoon.
- Light cotton-like foliage floats gently in the warm breeze.
- **Foreground**:
- The golden grass meadow stretches towards the camera.
- The tops of the meadow sway gently like water.
- **Character**:
- A man, average height, is walking through the center of the meadow towards the building.
- His back is to the camera; he wears a black T-shirt, beige cap, and knee-length shorts.
- **Action/Movement**:
- The man is walking at a leisurely pace, his steps slightly disturbing the grass, indicating his path.
- the mans right hand brushes the top of the grass
-The camera angle is low waist height behind the man.
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