The Tale of Terry and the Tenacious Tack

Once upon a time in the bustling town of Everydayville, there lived a chap named Terry.

Terry was your average Joe—well, except for one little thing. Unbeknownst to most, Terry had a tack permanently stuck in his butt. Yes, you read that right—a shiny, sharp tack had made its home right there on Terry's left cheek! The tack first made its appearance one fateful afternoon at Terry’s office. You see, Terry worked at "Cheeks Relief," a company so dedicated to making life comfortable for its employees that it accidentally forgot to check the comfort of their chairs. Terry, in a rush from a very engaging lunch break discussing the metaphysical implications of potato chips, plopped down into his chair, and voila! The tack introduced itself to his lower frame.

At first, Terry was in agony. He jumped up, did a little dance that would later be known as the 'Terry Twist,' and pondered pulling it out. But, as deadlines loomed and emails piled up, Terry decided to "deal with it later." Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, and the tack became as much a part of Terry as his own cellulite. Colleagues started noticing that Terry had developed a peculiar lean in his gait—what some might call a ‘swagger,’ but it was really just a tack-tical adjustment. Terry, however, began to see the tack as a part of his daily routine. He named it "Tacitus," after the stoic philosopher, because like his ancient namesake, the tack inspired a kind of resigned indifference in Terry.

One sunny day, while Terry was sipping his fourth cup of matcha-enhanced coffee, a new employee named Wilma joined the office. Wilma, a vibrant soul who wore her aura like a technicolor dreamcoat, noticed Terry's lopsided limping and winced every time he sat down."Hey Terry," she ventured one day, "why do you wince like you’ve just watched the finale of your favorite show get canceled, every time you sit?" Terry chuckled. "Oh, that's just Tacitus, my personal little life coach. Keeps me in check, reminds me of the persistent pains of existence," he explained with a mix of pride and a dash of martyrdom.

Wilma, who wasn’t just about random chit chat but also about removing unnecessary pain from the cosmos, gave Terry a look that was part therapist, part wizard. "You know, Terry," she said in a tone that suggested enlightenment was just a conversation away, "just because you're used to the pain doesn’t mean it has to be part of your life. Comfort is not just corporate policy—it’s a choice!"

This simple revelation hit Terry like a truck full of meditation cushions.

He had become so accustomed to the discomfort that he forgot he could just… remove it.

With a blend of hesitation and excitement, Terry finally decided to part ways with Tacitus. Post-tack-ectomy, Terry’s life changed. His walk straightened, his mood lightened, and he even retired the Terry Twist for a more joyful jig. Terry learned a valuable lesson that day: just because you’re accustomed to discomfort, doesn't mean it has to become part of your life's upholstery. And from then on, Terry made a point to choose comfort, whenever possible, much to the delight of his butt and the office at large. And so, Terry lived more comfortably ever after, reminding us all that sometimes, removing the tack is all it takes to find a little more joy in the journey.

Any spiritual, emotional tacks nagging you? Help remove them here!!'

Helena and Brian Collins

Life in Synergy®