OBSRVNC

The sad part about getting older in this timeline is seeing how far people become removed from their humanity.

You see people grow desperate. Losing faith in themselves — if they ever had any to begin with.

People give up. They cling to false identities rooted in a time that has long passed, unable or unwilling to reconcile who they once were with who they’ve become.

In some instances, you see people increasingly align their beliefs with the interests of big businesses. As though working for a company somehow places them on equal footing with those who own it. As though proximity to power is the same as possessing it.

You see how people lose sight of their own power. And not only that, but of the power they hold collectively.

I’d say that’s one of the more troubling aspects of it all. The gradual surrender of independent thought, curiosity, and the ability to imagine something different.

What do we lose as a people?

When people stop questioning the systems they participate in, it becomes easier for them to internalize those systems as an extension of themselves. Their productivity becomes their worth … professional titles become identities… and beliefs become increasingly shaped by the institutions they depend on.

And the longer you engage with our capitalistic society, the more you notice how speed and action are rewarded over thoughtfulness and strategy. How little space is left for reflection, even when reflection is precisely what’s needed.

Over time, this conditioning extends beyond the workplace. People become accustomed to moving through life on autopilot, responding to demands, following routines, and consuming whatever is placed in front of them.

Honestly, that’s why I feel like I’m in the midst of a zombie apocalypse half of the time.

People with their heads down, moving slowly and aimlessly. Physically present, but seemingly disconnected from themselves, their surroundings, and one another.

Of course, not everyone is moving through life this way. But once you begin to recognize these patterns, they’re difficult to ignore. It’s all very concerning, and it all appears to be by design.

While I may have these observations, and feel a sense of pessimism at times — I believe there is a future that can look different. And this is a choice I will continue to honor through my own creative energy, by being self-aware, and contributing beauty to the world.

Original photography by OBSVNC

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