Gary liked to think he is pretty courageous in the face of humans. He allowed an unheard of intimacy of half a meter and was never afraid to show his pecker. In between eating crumbs and dodging humans Garry filled his day with flying and other activities that are unmentionable in the context of a friendly story.

Usually, this lifestyle suited Gary perfectly fine. He often woke up each day feeling a renewed sense of unequivocal fulfilment and went about his daily tasks in a manor that any bird of prey would call living life to the full.

This lifestyle of unquestioning bliss carried on for several pigeon years and as each day passed by Garry felt he grew a little wiser. One day though a thought hit Garry square on the beak. Analysing this thought in a purely physical sense would lead us to the assumption that the thought Garry was hit by was a kid on a skateboard not looking where he was going. Since pigeons’ grasp of philosophy is somewhat more metaphysical Garry took a few moments of reflection on what his bash induced delirium caused.

In those few moments questions appeared in front of Garry like a dam bursting and flooded his subconscious with feelings of doubt and unease: What is it to be me? What do I mean to others? Is that little prick at least grazed after hitting me? Luckily for Garry, at least one of these trouble questions was positively resolved by looking across his shoulder which, by pigeon standards, took a lot of effort and reassured Gary of no lasting damage.

As Gary flew off the questions that clouded his consciousness at the cost of a few brain cells almost appeared in front of his eyes. Being a species that differs to humanity, Garry couldn’t justify his life based on religious teachings; they simply exclude him. He also couldn’t keep living by his previously apathetic views as they had little meaning and made him feel empty.

Garry was stuck: all of a sudden he was in a world that didn’t make logical sense. This troubled Garry quite a lot and a troubled pigeon is a useless pigeon. How can a measly creature of the air expect to contribute to nature with such a crushing existential crisis?

So Garry got himself a cheese and onion pasty (kindly donated by an old women who would not stop screaming) and sat down to some serious thinking. His first satisfying thought emerged and carried with it the words, ‘we are what we leave behind for others’. This satisfied Garry for a time until he worryingly discovered that under-qualified humans cleared up what he left behind. This idea was no good, he needed a new one.

Then his thoughts turned to the idea that the only world that exists is the one that he sees for himself. Garry flew far and wide to extend his world but was ultimately disappointed when the only thing he discovered was old, saggy, birds and a Gala bingo hall.

Garry was about ready to give up until a stroke of genius washed over his feathers. While recuperating from being blasted by a hose-pipe Garry realised that the world doesn’t change based on his experiences but his experiences allow for free thought that allows him to justify the world. He thinks therefore he is and the only justification his life requires is his ability of free thinking and perception.

Of course, Garry is a fictional character but he has illustrated that you can construct ideas and make judgements on life too. At the end of the day, life is what you perceive it to be.

Have fun.