Finding Balance

My joints were locked in an outward reach, held frozen against the warm afternoon air. Then, a quiet impulse stirred within. Intentionally, I flexed my right ankle. The joint moved smoothly, obeying my own volition rather than an external touch. I slowly adjusted my stance, lowering my outstretched arms by a fraction to recalibrate my center of gravity. Beneath my bare feet, I pressed into the coarse, threaded rim of the brown fabric container, noting the subtle give of the weave. The balance was sound. I held still, fully aware of my own footing.