The Epics Of John Smith

The human race has always been obsessed with stories. Stories of grand adventures, of great peril, of swoon-worthy romance and heart-wrenching betrayal, of all that is inspirational, frightening, and droll. We see the characters as faraway heroes, of rare boons of (mis)fortune, or as untouchable reservoirs of hope and generosity; not as regular people we could meet on the street. Stories are to be read and enjoyed from afar, while constantly reminding us of the existential dullness of our own lives.

The reality is, though, that stories are all around us, swirling past us like invisible hurricanes, pelting between us in the form of words, smiles, waves. Every crowd is a tornado, every exchange a rainstorm, every word a drop of warm water on our skin. The person sitting next to you on the bus has a story as unique and interesting as yours. So does the person across from you. So does the driver.

Over my time searching for stories and pitches here at the Courier, I’ve realized that all stories, from the grandest to the smallest, are created equal. The richest person on earth may have a brighter story than a houseless woman on Pender Ave., but no matter how exciting the money sounds, neither story is superior to the other. You might be sitting on the bus next to Ryan Reynolds, pointedly looking out the window as you both suffer through rush-hour traffic in silent solidarity, but at the end of the day, you’re just as much of a person as he is.

Everyone has a story. You, me, the student doodling at the back of the class, everyone. Every single one of us is equally vital to the story of Vancouver, that of Canada, the world, the universe. Together, we all form the collective experience that drives us forward.

So be bold. Be brave. Be yourself. Be your own Ariadne, or Odysseus, or Harry Potter, or Percy Jackson. You are the main character, the proud hero of your own story.

So keep on fighting.

Hugs,

The Courier Crew