Breathe in…

And out…

Pay close attention to the breath…

If you find yourself becoming distracted by thought, simply notice the thought, and then return your attention to the breath…

Feel the warmth of the sun on your face…

Turn your attention now to the one enlarged canine tooth on each side of your mouth, and the presence of your gular, scapular and postauricular folds…

Notice your homogeneous dorsal scales and the prominent keels that form your vertebral and dorsolateral ridges…

Finally, recognise that while these features are shared among all Tommy Roundheads, they do not define you…

You must learn to deal with the radical freedom inherent to your mere existence, Tommy.

Do you eat bugs and sunbake on rocks because you want to, Tommy? Or because you think that’s what being a Tommy Roundhead means?

It is your responsibility and yours alone to live authentically, Tommy.

–

Tommy Roundhead Lizard (Diporiphora australis), Davies Creek, Australia