“Version One and a Half” was nothing more than my personal journal. I had never imagined becoming an author — not until someone very close to me read those pages and said, ‘This needs to be published.’ One thing led to another, and now, I’m just days away from launching my 11th book, Chasing Shadows, on May 3.
I wasn’t immune to the Sombie Virus either. But reading and writing became my antidote. They helped me regain focus and reclaim my time.
My first book will always hold a special place in my heart. I still revisit it from time to time — it keeps me grounded. Here’s my favorite chapter from that book…
The Sombie Virus Is Real — And You Might Be Infected
Zombies are already here. They walk among us every day — in subways and buses, at dinner tables, even in meetings. But these aren’t the brain-eating undead from horror movies. These are SOMBIES — victims of the Sombie Virus.
This virus wasn’t created in a shady lab or through some evil bioweapon program. No. It was accidentally engineered by mobile phone companies — and we helped it evolve. We fed it, nurtured it, and carried it around in our pockets. Now, almost all of us show the symptoms.
Sombie (adj.) – Describes someone completely absorbed in their smartphone, oblivious to everything and everyone around them.
Sombie (n.) – Short for Smartphone Zombie. Someone like me. Someone who scrolls mindlessly through apps while sitting with friends, family, or even alone.
Sombies walk, eat, travel, and even sleep with their phones, eyes glued to the screen as if decoding NASA’s next Mars landing — when in reality, they’re just toggling between Instagram and YouTube for the umpteenth time.
I used to be one too. Scrolling endlessly through WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook… lost in a digital abyss. Even when surrounded by people I love. But then something changed.
Reading.
Books helped me implement Version 1½ of myself — a better, more focused version. Reading calmed the sombie virus. It gave me something meaningful to engage with. It sharpened my focus and, funnily enough, even improved my writing.
But beware — not all sombies are harmless. Some suffer from a nasty side effect: “I-don’t-give-a-damn-if-I-bump-into-you” syndrome. These are the Walking Sombies. They roam streets glued to their screens, crashing into poles, potholes, and people. They’re a hazard to themselves and everyone else.
BEWARE THE WALKING SOMBIE!
Most sombies are peaceful. Quiet. Dormant. Until… the low battery alert hits. That’s when the panic sets in. Their calm demeanor flips into a desperate frenzy to find a charging point. Another trigger? Poor network coverage. Without internet, a sombie might briefly reconnect with reality — but only out of sheer panic.
I fought back with a secret weapon: the Kindle. Yes, technically still a screen — but now the virus was being used for something good. Constructive.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
“Seeing a problem only as a problem won’t fix it. Seeing it as a possibility often will.”
The sombie virus isn’t invincible. It can be managed. Reading is one way. You might find another. Maybe journaling. Maybe creating something. Just… something that feeds your mind, not just your screen.
Because reading doesn’t just help reduce stress. It boosts focus, memory, empathy, and creativity. And the best part? It brings you back to the real world.
That’s how I started beating the sombie virus.
How will you?
https://authorjasveersinghdangi.substack.com/p/the-sombie-virus
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