On Trial in the Kangaroo Court of Would, Should and Could

Shaking off the shackles of shame, obligation and anxiety

Designed by

When I finally opened my eyes, he was already straddling me on the bed on all fours — hands planted firmly on either side of my head — staring down at me for any signs of life. Startled and slightly annoyed, I pushed him away and sat up.

Through the weak light of the early winter morning, I could see the other one was here, too, sitting at my feet, looking forlornly into the distance. Feeling my gaze, he slowly turned to look at me. I kicked him hard from under the covers, making him abruptly stand up with a look of hurt in his eyes.

“What do you guys want?” I said groggily.

These two will inevitably show up at some moment in my day, but they always catch me in the morning, taking advantage of a mind still peering out through the fog of sleep and without the hit of a strong coffee coursing through my veins.

The anxious one, who’s constantly riding the upward spiral of the future, like a leaf in a tornado. Just spin- spin- spinning, trying to hold on to anything he can get his hands on. That would be the Could dude.

And the sad one, who’s constantly trudging through that boggy mire of shame and old regrets — always thinking…