**
If you find yourself in pain of any kind, heed my words:
Do NOT lie on your front on the floor, trying to do the exercises the therapist ordered.
If you do, you’ll see the dark matter of the universe.
Hiding under the heavy wood cupboard, clinging to the underside of the sofa, it’s been there for so long, it’s turned dark charcoal, almost black.
Dust.
You’ll immediately forget your commitment to exercise. Moaning and groaning, you’ll find yourself fetching a small brush, some damp paper towels and a large garbage bag.
As you swipe at the dust, you’ll find yourself muttering words that would make a sailor blush.
You’ll feel a strange wheeze coming on. You’ll realize that you’ve been inhaling this dark matter for months, and maybe even years, but never at such close quarters. Or so you think.
And all along you’ll know that the back pain is getting worse and you really should stop this madness. But you’re now a person possessed.
Until the dust is gone, you cannot possibly return to your exercise.
Except that – by then – you’ll be good for nothing but lying down, wondering what on earth had gotten into you. Perhaps the dust was more toxic than you realized.
But you’ll feel virtuous.
Until it dawns on you that there are more rooms in the house, and more dust. In dark corners, under the heavy furniture that’s never moved.
But as the pain wracks your body, you’ll finally understand what your mother meant when she said, “Sometimes, you just have to turn a blind eye”.
And you’ll wish you’d thought of this wise saying before you got yourself into trouble.
**
This post is dedicated to everyone who knows when to turn away from trouble.
Cynthia Reyes 