Mind Over Matter

Mind over matter. Should you live to be a certain

age, this happens to be the way of things most days.

Oh, I can still pick up the fork to eat and place the

food where it needs to be. Some maneuvers still

come automatically. Mind over matter, you know.

When the call comes all of a sudden, I tell myself

hurry! And nine times out of ten I still manage to

make it to the bathroom on time. Oh, how fortu-

nate am I. Strong will, I tell you—mind over matter.

Climb that hill, that’s the obstacle in the way of get-

ting where you need to be today. Mind reconsiders

at the begging indulgence of aching hips and weak-

ening legs. On second thought, mind says don’t be

so damned ambitious, legs are in pain. Reconsider,

we’ll go the flat and steady way instead. Don’t forget

your cane. Better yet, sit and wait a spell, a mindful

thought entertains. You’ve far exceeded your energy

level for the day. No more promises of tomorrow

comes another day, mind is smart enough to say.

You’re lucky you can still feed yourself adequately,

and are able to make it to the toilet mostly on time.

Even Sir Edmond Hillary was wise enough of mind

to know when to give up the climb.

And, in these my aging days, insofar as mind over

matter is concerned, mind sternly conveys words

of widom to me, don’t press your luck, Buddy!

Chris Hanch 5-29-19