Member-only story
Shame Valley
Shame Valley by Toby Sloane
I never thought much about Shame, but when Medium declared it as January’s Theme, I turned to the FLASHTeam for InnerTrek Support. After drawing a path that winds through a valley and ends at a distant Horizon, I check the Shame DDFiles and discover that crossing the border into the valley is the first challenge. I visualize a Wooded Path, and hear whispery voices in the shadowy underbrush, like a wire brush on a snare drum.
My MuscleOrganization (MO) ReadOut reveals tense shoulders shielding against FeelBad Influence. I’m aware of many Shame Myths, Legends, and Stories, mostly connected to the powerful OverLord, FeelBad. A pounding drumbeat compels me across the border into a grove of dense evergreen, dripping with moisture and regret. An Umbrella Stand appears to my left, and I take and open a black and white checked one. Instantly, regret weighs me down, the exalted beat and voice of, Rise Above, from the group Two Steps From Hell.
Stepping into a clearing, I discard the umbrella, prepared to make headway, but invisible forces hold me back. Reluctance keeps tight reins, and I doubt I can continue.
The setting shifts to a track lined with Cheering Chanters on both sides, urging me to lean into the harness and pull the load with MO unification.
