the gorilla in the room

a long time ago 

a gorilla appeared in a small room in your mind

suddenly

without warning

and without permission

it just...

appeared 

you didn’t know what to think of it at first

how unexpected it was 

to see a gorilla

in the middle of your room 

but quickly you realized 

you were uncomfortable with it being there 

for this was a private room 

a room you shared with someone special

and who was this gorilla 

to think it could just barge in like that

you didn’t hear it knock

you didn’t hear it ask

you didn’t even know when or how it came in

how rude.

you try to bargain

you try to lure it out

but it just wouldn’t budge

this is its permanent residence now

and it’s already signed the lease

you briefly try to ignore it

but how can you?

there’s a giant gorilla in the room

so out of frustration you barge out 

and never turn back

you tuck the room away

in the very back of your mind

lock it up 

and throw away the key

again.

as you walk away 

you turn a blind eye

to all the other rooms you’ve locked away

in denial 

of the prison of rooms you’ve slowly collected

the rooms of your mind hold the memories you experience

you can’t only visit the good ones 

and lock up the bad ones

not every room will be decorated the way you like

not every room will have people or things you like in it

but every room will continue to exist within your mind

you are the owner of your own mind hotel

you don’t have to like every tenant

you don’t have to live in every room

but you should at least check up on them every once in a while

say hi to some old guests

do some spring cleaning

fix some maintenance issues

it’s only fair 

in maintaining 

a happy and healthy mind

so please,

next time you find yourself uncomfortable

let’s address the gorilla in the room.