When the World Feels Artificial, Choose Real. An Interesting Encounter.

The Fear isn't Ai... It is now walking through the door... The Following story is true...

Let’s be honest… how many of us have lost an evening to the endless scroll?

Thumb moving, mind wandering, eyes glazing over.

It’s not just you. It’s me too...

We’re living in a world where what’s real and what isn’t has become harder to spot.

AI is everywhere now: art, banking, health, politics. Scams and deepfakes aren’t rare… they’re routine.

The line between authentic and artificial feels blurred.

And here’s what’s wild.

For all the headlines about technology taking over, most of us aren’t scared enough to put down our phones.

We’re scared of something else.

The Worry We All Feel

Stepping into the unknown. Being vulnerable. Walking into a new place alone...

Before Christmas, a man stood outside The Kontinuum, staring in. Open sign. Snow deer art on the window. A wooden frontage that’s far from intimidating....

I opened the door and smiled.

He hesitated.

Then he admitted the truth.... he wasn’t sure what was on the other side. He didn’t have the confidence to step in. He worried it might not be for him.

And he was genuinely surprised ... almost relieved .... by the simple reality of being welcomed.... That shocked me...

That to me is just how disconnected we are becoming .... and he is not the first and will not be the last...

The Moment Everything Shifts

But he came in.

And what he found wasn’t what he expected. He wandered around with a huge smile, in awe of the talent of the artists, he was genuinely shocked that all the art was local...

I offered him a cuppa and he declined saying "I am just having a look... "

So I offered to show him the venue out back with a bar, piano, mic and PA. Tables and chairs set up for Creative Café. Cosy sofas. Blankets.... he followed and again his face lit up with delight seeing all the people that were creating...

People laughing. Making friends. Being absolutely, authentically themselves.

That is what home should feel like... Isn’t it?

Not just a place.

A feeling... Welcomed and to just be yourself....

and yes, he did end up having a coffee and now a regular at the Creative Cafe... Turns out that he draws in ink. He created illustrations and had not drawn since his wife passed away during Covid...

Why Are We So Disconnected?

We post photos, but it’s in the real moments that change us.

We talk about mental health, but what about prevention? Often the root is disconnect due to lack of trust, fear, isolation.

Therapy and medication have their place. But healing also starts with support, connection, and positive human interactions.

If you’re afraid to walk through the door, you’ll never know what could have happened.

What’s the worst that could happen?

You might find your people.

The Bigger Picture: Making Things Again (Starting Where You Are)

The man asked why I created the gallery...

Part of my answer is mental health, an incognito place to step in, it is not a drs office or a clinic... you can get insipred and if you need a friendly conversation, we have professions available that you can have a private conversation with... it is about creating a supportive community.... but there is always more...

Another part of Kontinuum is this...

How can the UK economy grow if we don’t make things here anymore?

Not just products. Not just art.

Skills. Confidence. Earning power.

Because skills create confidence, and confidence creates action.

When people learn to make, repair, create, or teach, they’re not just doing a hobby... they’re building capability.

Capability can turn into income.

Income turns into stability.

Stability turns into healthier families and stronger communities.

And local spending matters more than people realise. When we buy local, money circulates locally: it pays wages, keeps shops open, funds new ideas, and gives young people a reason to stay and build a life where they are.

When we outsource everything and only buy mass-produced, we slowly strip towns of opportunity. Fewer makers. Fewer jobs. Less pride. Less connection. More struggle.

So yes — if we don’t make things here, and we don’t buy local when we can, it does make sense that things get worse.

That’s why “choose real” isn’t just a vibe. It’s a practical decision with real consequences.

The Truth and the Choice

So what’s influencing us to move so far from authentic?

Why do we all say we hate it, but struggle to change?

Here’s the reality of today’s world... whether we feel responsible or not, we do have a choice.

We can reconnect.

We can step through the door.

We can take a risk, meet real people, and support real creators.

The fear isn’t in technology.

The fear is being seen. Making a mistake. Not knowing if you’ll belong.

But that’s where life is....

That’s where connection happens.

The Invitation

If you see yourself in this story ... if you’ve ever hesitated at the threshold, unsure if you belong... know this:

The real world is waiting for you.

Humans crave authenticity, even if it doesn’t feel trendy or easy right now.

We’re hungry for the handmade, the honest, the stories behind what we touch, who we meet and that can't be authentically made by machines... it is the real warmth of a real hand and a beating heart.

AI might help us... (to be debated, I am sure...)

But it can never replace the spark of a genuine encounter.

So if you’re local, come in.

Even if you only stay for five minutes. Even if you don’t know what to say yet.

And if you’re reading from further away, you can still be part of this.

Follow along, subscribe, and help us prove that community-led creativity isn’t a “nice-to-have”.

It’s how we build a future we actually want to be part of.

Kerry

Founder, The Kontinuum CIC