Once again, I'm going to reproduce a comment that I made in a forum. This time it was somebody lamenting about their chronic pain. If you've never dealt with pain slowly erasing all memories of what life used to be like and all hopes of what life could be, consider yourself extremely blessed. That being said, here are my thoughts that apply to a range of personal challenges.
"Hey, I know how you feel. I've dealt with my pain for 8 years (I'm 22). I'm just a piece in the medical machine that always gets pushed to the next specialist.
But check this out.
Humans can't fly. Sure, we were smart enough to build machines that will fly for us, but we can never fly. I think one needs to view chronic pain like the lack of flight. Is is sad? Yeah. We all wish we could fly. But is it the end of the world and all things joyous? No. The trick is to accept that you can't fly and instead focus on the things you can do.
You mentioned learning languages and instruments. That's awesome. I speak Danish and play over 5 instruments. Success breeds success. When you make small, achievable goals and accomplish them, it makes you realize you can accomplish more. So you do.
For example, I also write books. I can't work out or do sports or even just go on a simple hike. But I can read and write. I'm on my third book right now (at 76,000 words). I have a daily word count goal that feels great to accomplish, and it drives me to write more. When someone's getting to know you through prose you've created, they have no idea you can't fly. They don't know that you're black, that you're blind, that you're allergic to pineapple, that you never wear shoes. They know you because of your mind. It's a wonderful wall that I like to use. That's also why I like to produce my own music (not that I'm spectacularly good at it). But they know nothing about me except for my musical ability. It's beautiful.
So that's my advice. Don't focus on the fact that you can't fly. Focus on the fact that you can run. Never stop running just because the birds above you can fly."
It really takes an adjustment of worldview. I'd love to work out and be physically active like normal people. But in order to be happy, you have to calibrate yourself to your limitations. If you're judging yourself on unachievable criteria, you'll never be happy.
This is a beautiful post. Regret is an awful place to live. As I read the scriptures, that's what makes up the fire and brimstone of which hell is said to consist.
ReplyDeleteDon't focus on what might have been, unless it is valuable in spurring you onward. Focus on what can be and let that foster what will be.
But don't sell yourself short either. I did that for several years after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, assuming that certain things were permanently out of reach. My MS became a crutch and an unnecessary barrier. I ultimately had to learn to venture beyond what I thought I could do to achieve what I have. Uncomfortable? Yes. But worth it.
Read The Amazing Liver Cleanse by Andreas Moritz. I have done seven liver cleanses so far, and they have helped me recover from severe chronic pain more than anything else I've done. Aloha, WakingNomad
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