The Gravity of My Chair

My problem is overcoming the heaviness
of wanting to do nothing more
than rest in my chair
cuddled up in blankets
Letting the TV, Facebook, or staring out the window marginally entertain me.

I feel best about myself when I accomplish something.
It can be as simple as exercising, cleaning, or
learning anything new.

When my body isn’t forced into activity,
it becomes even more lethargic and heavier.
A headache grows.
Restlessness and boredom set in.

Any simple movement out of my chair
opens a happier world.
But here I sit cemented in it,
searching for that super energy
to pull me free of its powerful gravity.

My hand reaches down to the remote and clicks off the TV.
I marvel at its independence and intelligence.
A minor victory

Now to the kitchen to make that soup
I’ve had the ingredients waiting for two weeks
or to the office to tackle one of my to-do list.

I throw out my imaginary climbing rope
in the direction of the kitchen
to pull my body free
of my chair’s strong gravity.

I need to do more today
than just sit.

—Originally written as a poem in 2023. A prose version appears in Cancer InsideOut. Presented here in its original form.