My hardest battles aren’t with others
But with myself
Waging relentless optimism against an array of sins
I am cloaked in lethargy
I can barely shrug off the self-pity that has me wrapped up
In my own pain
I find it difficult to perceive the urgency of others’ struggles
Empathy is in short supply
So I retreat
I find myself napping
Taking short breaks
Eventually I psyche myself up for a walk
It has warmed up
So that insects and birds play out their aerial battles
With sunglints punctuating each twist and turn
Under the forest canopy I forage for blackberries
It is early enough that at least half are still tart
Their color belying their character
I leave the park and find my way to the commuter trail
I take pictures of the highway below
Wondering how many people have driven past this spot
Oblivious to its beauty
In their obsession with speed and distance
I think of the distance between heartbeats
And how oblivious we can be
To what our hearts murmur in our ears
David Trudel © 2013