You are so tired.
You don't want to go to class because it's rainy out and you're cozy on the couch with the nice chenille blanket wrapped around you. It's chilly outside, the perfect weather to stay at home, wrapped up like a mummy.
But you think about who you used to be and how you thought you'd never change and then you realize who you are and think "I've gotta change."
So you drag your lazy ass outta the house and go to the gym. You wince at your reflection in the mirror and move over on the mat to a place where you won't have to watch yourself. The music starts thumping and that dancer trapped within you starts to move. Slowly you find the beat and feel a smile start to turn up the corners of your mouth.
The first drops of sweat bead up on the bridge of your nose and you think, "Why there?" But it feels good and you keep moving and you pop out a couple more beads of sweat and then suddenly your hair is wet and your vision is a little blurry because sweat is pouring off of your forehead into your eyes.
You're punching and kicking at the phantom that is lethargy and age and you're beating it back. Every swing of the arm makes you wince because you lifted weights yesterday but you still swing those arms and you focus and you beat the living hell out of that phantom.
The music is all there is and you move back in front of the mirror and take a couple of swings at your own reflection. Your movements come together and you're floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee. You're the eye of the tiger and you're running the steps of the Philadelphia art museum.
Stretching now and you're farther than yesterday but nowhere close to where you were only five years ago. Hold that stretch and pray. Pray that you don't stay on the couch tomorrow or ever again. Pray that you can feel this good all day and that tomorrow you'll remember it and you'll come back. Pray that the phantom that held you down and held you in will keep its distance and leave you alone.
You're leaving class and you're sweating like a pig and you smell as bad as one but you feel beautiful and glowing and you're walking on air.
You're exhausted but you're not tired, and more importantly, you're alive.
7:22:15 PM 
|
