Summary

The website content describes a metaphorical journey of personal growth and decolonization, where the protagonist confronts and dismantles imposed value systems to discover a more authentic existence.

Abstract

The narrative "Shattering Glass" is an allegorical account of an individual's transformative journey through the painstaking process of challenging and revising deeply ingrained beliefs. The protagonist, having donned a metaphorical blindfold and ill-fitting shoes, symbolizing false perceptions and inadequate tools for life's challenges, embarks on a path strewn with shattered glass, representing the sharp reality of truth. Despite the comfort and safety of familiar surroundings, the protagonist perseveres through doubt and resistance, ultimately reaching a point of clarity and natural freedom. The journey is marked by moments of reflection, the shedding of artificial constructs, and the gradual understanding of the manipulative forces of colonization. The protagonist's resilience is rewarded with a guide fairy, experience points in skills such as identifying and challenging value systems, and a bag of symbolic items to aid in the ongoing quest for truth and self-discovery.

Opinions

The author conveys a critical view of societal norms, suggesting they can blindfold and misguide individuals, leading them away from their true nature.
There is an emphasis on the pain and discomfort inherent in the process of personal growth and the unlearning of colonized mindsets.
The text suggests that the journey towards decolonization and self-realization is not only solitary but also fraught with challenges that require courage and persistence.
The narrative implies that the rewards of such a journey, including the ability to breathe "clean air" and experience genuine freedom, are worth the struggle.
The inclusion of a "guide fairy" and "experience points" introduces a gamification element, perhaps to make the concept of decolonization more accessible or engaging.
The author seems to celebrate the protagonist's ability to recognize and appreciate the natural world, contrasting it with the artificiality of colonized spaces.
The discovery of a new barrier after overcoming initial challenges suggests a layered and ongoing process of decolonization, rather than a one-time event.
The items in the bag symbolize the tools and knowledge necessary for the protagonist to continue their journey, highlighting the importance of self-reliance and continuous learning.

Shattering Glass

Will you walk through the glass as your paradigms shatter or will you turn around and walk the way that you came, where is no glass to step through?

As I walk through the shattering of all I used to believe, I look back one last time to see if I would like to retreat.

The way is fraught with pain that is sharp. All the while, untruths are dissected away from my heart.

The room I thought was filled with light is actually quite dark. I have been wearing this blindfold for so long that it has grafted to my skin. Somehow I missed that the material was foreign.

Oops, I did that again, when I removed the gloves from my hands and touched my real skin.

Next comes the shoes, the ones they said would protect me. All they did was have me looking like a fool as I try to climb a mountain in ballet flats.

I look back again to the path that is known; I look forward to the shattered glass with jagged fractured edges where tiny little light shines in the darkness giving glimmers of a pathway unknown.

Dodge the obvious fragments on the lane only to have my feet marred and punctured along the way.

STOP! TURNAROUND! My loved ones say, it is safe here, it is warm, if you come back, we can help heal you that way. I pause and ponder, drop my head and cry: because that would be the easy way.

The path is brisk with a crisp chill in the air. Then I realize it is the first time I have felt fresh organic air.

The further I go, there is gradual diminishing of their voices. At the same time, I being to perceive the pull of the invisible systems that desire to keep my mind within its control.

With only a meager amount of light to follow, I press forward through the pain. So far, I have been met with gale and rain. So much resistance just to breathe clean air. I finally found a rest stop so to the wounds I endured, I can finally provide care.

As I continue to move forward the light shines brighter. I can breathe effortlessly here you see. The air is no longer fabricated, l’air est tout naturel c’est magnifique.

I see fauna and flora growing straight up from the ground, and not in pots like the internment I have escaped from.

The ground is getting warmer, as I glimpse the path that is moving forward. I see trees of all heights, a river, and homes with thatched roofs.

I get excited and run towards all that I see, only to be met with another glass barrier. I look for a handle in an attempt to open it like a door. The only thing I find is a hammer, a bag, and a note.

This is what the note said: “Congratulations on escaping from the cave! You have completed the first level of the game Decolonization. You have begun the process of identifying, challenging, revising, and replacing the value systems enforced upon you by the settlers who moved here from a nation-state from a distant land. As a gift to assist you during this arduous trek, we are providing you a guide fairy to assist you along your decolonization journey.”