A5 Halton Roundabout, Chirk, by DronePicsWales.
What if driving, cycling, being a passenger or pedestrian, isn't a competition? What if it's a beautiful dance, whose purpose is to make it as easy as possible for the other people to arrive? To enjoy the journey for all its tiny dramas and interactions? Above all, to live it stress-free in a spirit of curiosity? Welcome to the world of Ogmios School of Zen Motoring.
I've often day dreamed as I cycle around my city: what if people didn't see each other as competitors to race ahead of, chasing any small advantage, but instead as collaborators who are all working together to enable the whole mass to reach its various destinations in the optimum time and with maximum joy?
And now Ogmios (youth educator and former battle rapper, alter ego of Ivan Battaliero-Owen) invites us to practice mindful patience in traffic jams, give each other double waves and respect traffic signs.
"I respect you, keep left sign."
Zen Motoring is a new six-part comedy on BBC Three, showing the view from Ogmios's dashcam as he drives around. Ogmios narrates his trips with a calm, patient and loving voice, even when the people around him behave in ways he never would. His is not the most important journey.
"For I am but one humble piece in the sliding block puzzle that is North London."
This deep reframing, from competition to collaboration, from road rage to carriageway calmness, would definitely make our streets better.
Not just transport
And the lessons are applicable everywhere - in interactions without words as we negotiate paths, parks, shops, roads, and in conversations.
As facilitators, we can help by noticing our own frames about "what's really going on here?", experimenting with calmer Zen frames, and encouraging groups we work with to experiment too.
Winning >>> Sharing
Fear >>> Curiosity
Persuading >>> Discovering
Waiting to respond >>> Listening
Zero-sum >>> Win-win
Telling >>> Asking
I’m OK / You’re not OK >>> I’m OK / You’re OK
It's a comedy, it's a life lesson
There's so much more to Zen Motoring than the aspect I’ve explored here. Do watch it.
Making the Path by Walking
This post was first published in the January 2022 issue of Making the Path by Walking newsletter. Scroll right down to subscribe.