Mess Steals My Energy

The mess is creeping up into my guts Giving me a punch. I turn my cheek so it does not slap me. Clutter tightens the unhappy bands around my heart. Makes me feel depressed, lethargic. Energy level is a thousand past zero. I am helpless now. Stagnant. Immobile. Overwhelmed, I feel myself shut down. What would you do it this was your mess? Internal voice asks me. This irritates me because it IS my mess. There is caramel corn glued to the end table. It lies under a pile of toothpicks, aspirin bottles, and eyeglasses. Magazines, a dictionary, and a half cup of moldy tea. There could be a family of porcupines in there somewhere. How about we start small? The voice asks. I did not think it would be possible to shut me down any harder but it is. It takes me a month to finally get a knife and scrape up the caramel corn. In fifteen minutes the entire table is clean. I feel younger and happier than I have in six months. I feel alive. Want to start on the kitchen? The voice asks. I shut down quickly.