Hey!

That’s as good a place as any to start. Hey, you! In the chair.

What do you suppose you’re doing, sitting there? Have you any idea yourself? I can tell that you’re suffering, in your own funny way. How could you not be, with a look like that? It’s a little pitiful, you know? Maybe you should try and cheer up. I’m certain you have problems, but you don’t have to be so glum about it. Everyone has problems, after all.

Why do you think you’re suffering so much?

…oh, is that so? Well, what do you think the solution is?

What do you mean you don’t know? You have to know, of course. Everyone knows what’s really the cause of their suffering, if they’ve got the stomach to look at it. Everyone knows their own tonic, too, if they’ve got the strength to reach for it. Don’t you?

Hey, what do you think this suffering is all about, really? You are suffering, aren’t you? You don’t have to try and hide it from me, I won’t judge. Suffering is a funny sort of thing—it can be big or small, and nobody else really has the right ruler to measure it. So, hey, what are you suffering from?

…oh? Is that so?

Well, what do you plan to do about it? You have to do something, after all, don’t you? I mean, it seems pretty clear what will happen if you don’t, and this doesn’t seem to be the best outcome for either of us. Hmm? Is that so surprising? It’s not like I like watching you suffer, you know. It hurts me, too, in some small way. I’d really rather you didn’t, if I’m being honest. But if you don’t know what to do about it, I guess I could offer some advice. It can’t really hurt much, can it?

Why not try doing something? Something is likely better than nothing, after all. Even if you don’t get it right, even if it comes out all garbled up—actually, I’m not so sure it can come out any other way than ‘garbled up’. I don’t think starting anything while suffering as bad as you are is going to turn out alright. It would probably be more unusual if it didn’t turn out terrible. Isn’t that kind of reassuring? It’s really all right if you do something that isn’t so wonderful—at least it’s a start, isn’t it? Even if it’s a bit messy, or maybe not so great, it might be just a little bit better than if you gave up and went to bed, right? There might not be any point to it at all, except that you tried your best.

Maybe if you did something just a little every day, one day it might not turn out so garbled. Maybe you might look at it and think ‘Oh, this isn’t quite so bad.’ Wouldn’t that be a nice change of pace? Wouldn’t it be something to look down and see—well, something? It’s kind of a long shot, I know, but wouldn’t that be better than looking down and seeing nothing at all?

Look, I don’t really know what you need if I’m being honest. I don’t really know the types of things that will get you going, or put you in the right direction. Actually, I’m not even sure if there is a right direction. Every direction leads to somewhere, but it would be silly to think that some places aren’t worse than where you are now. It’s kind of scary out there, and I think we both know that.

But…

Maybe it’s worth it just to try something small? Well, I don’t know. I’m really just talking out loud but—what’s that old saying? You have to grease the wheels? Isn’t there a chance, even a small one, that starting something might lead to finishing something? Something that might be grand? Isn’t that potential better than another evening of just doing the same old thing? I’m not a fortune teller or anything, but I’ve heard that the universe likes things to stay in motion once they’re moving. Maybe if you move, you’ll stay in motion, too?

It’s not like I can make you do something, though. Whatever you do is kind of up to you—and if we’re being honest with each other, you kind of have to have something you want to get out if you expect it to be any good. That’s kind of the strange thing about people, I think: they can really only put out what’s inside them to begin with.

But, that said…

…even with that being said.

I think you’ve got plenty inside of you. I think you could make something really grand. I know we’re not that close or anything—well, perhaps that’s not true—but I really do think that if you dip your toe in, the water might not be as cold as you think: the monster might be bigger in your head than on your doorstep. I can’t say for certain, and you know you better than I do, I think, but…

I think the chance is worth the risk. I think you could do something really amazing. It’ll be hard at first, and I think we both know it. But I know you can do it, if you try. I know you’re really better than you think you are. I know you’ve got something to give.

So even though I can’t really change your mind one way or the other—even though that’s not really my purpose, or something I can do…

I think you’re at the edge of a chasm, so to speak. I think what you’re looking for might be at the bottom. You’ll have to go down to get it, and to be honest you might have to climb back out. It’ll be a wild trip, but if you make it, you might rescue something really special from down there. It might take you too long to climb carefully down to the bottom. If you go inch by inch, taking it slow and steady, or just when you feel like it—well, I don’t know if you have that kind of time.

So jump.

It will certainly get you there quicker, and the fall might not be as bad as you think.

It’s not a real chasm anyway.