The First Trap

I am exchanging my control for more freedom.

I retreat into my tiny home.

Taking a single step means moving the whole home.

It is exhausting and dangerous.

What a baby I am.

I am closing my eyes.


I cross the wild sea by holding the rope.

I get off the horse by holding the nostril line.

I watch the visitors, coming and going.

They steal me, but they cannot destroy me.

I always come back alive.


I have the map of the land, my body.

I use thinking to pre-define a route:
From head, face, shoulders, arms, hands.
Front and back, hips, legs, knees, feet.
I go from right to left.

I do not have any reason to return to thinking.

What a wild ocean that is.


I have the map.

I have the route.

I am ready to move.


I get lost sometimes, and that is okay.

Like a game, I restart from the last save.

They can move me out of my way.

But nobody can make me move out of my way.


I stay in some places longer than others.

I skip some places.

This climb is slippery; I must be careful.


I get stuck in some places.

I cannot move away.

Sensation grabs me.

It holds my legs.

I cannot move.

I am alarmed.


What is happening?

I cannot move.

Is this okay?

Nobody other than me can make me move.

I am not moving.

What is the problem?

I am not able to move myself either.


This is a new problem.

I have discovered something new in this new world.


I learned how to run from thinking.

I learned how to stop from breathing.

I am learning how to move from sensations.


Sensation is there — that is case 1.

I am brought back there — that is case 2.

If I stay there when I can leave — that is case 3.


Whenever I get the chance, I move on my route.

Sensations do not pull, but they do not let me go.

This is a different dynamic of sharing a room.


Thinking leaves the room messy.
I cannot stop him; he does it when I am not there.
I move out.

Breathing constantly moves the room.
I cannot stop him, but I can stop myself.

Sensations do not move out at all.
I cannot kick them out,
I can move myself out one step a time.


Sensations find a new way to challenge me.

Nobody other than me can make me move.

They stop me.

I exercise my full control to move as much as I can.


I consult the three slaps.

I add a new test case.

Nobody other than me can make me stop myself.

I am opening my eyes, again.

the first encounter