Backwards

Have you ever had to do something that you really didn’t want to do?  Something stupid, like doing the dishes, or writing a paper, or putting away all the laundry you just did?  Then you know how you make it into such a big deal in your head, blow it way out of proportion.  By the time you’ve finished, you’d rather walk barefoot across a bed of hot coals than do whatever it is that you don’t want to do.  (We’ve all been there, don’t deny it.)

But—no matter how long you put it off—you still have to do it sometime.  So, when you can’t find a single fork, or your paper is due the next morning, or you can’t get to your bed because all the laundry is in the way, you finally give in.  You do it.  It sucks.  And then it’s over.

You look back, and you realize that it really wasn’t all that bad to begin with.  Then you feel ridiculous for making such a big deal about it.  You resolve that this is a secret you will take to your grave.  You have learned your lesson; you will never be so silly about something ever again.

A day passes, or a week, maybe even a little more.  The dishes are dirty again, you have another paper, you can’t find a single pair of socks to wear.  Guess what you do all over again?

Us people, are silly, backwards creatures, aren’t we? 

(‘Of course not, I don’t know what you’re talking about.  I would never do something so ridiculous.’

‘Friend, don’t even lie.’)

—The Shadow Knight