Pain is a funny thing, isn’t it? I am referring to physical pain, not emotional pain. I have noticed a few interesting things about physical pain, I wonder if you have noticed too……..
Isn’t it interesting that even the slightest amount of physical pain can make our days absolutely miserable? The pain can quickly become our total focus. It can be completely consuming. Recently I had a few weeks of struggling with physical pain and I found that I followed my typical patterns.
Somehow I sprained my ring (fourth) finger on my left hand. I have NO IDEA how on earth I managed to sprain it, but I did. It was swollen, it really hurt, and I could only bend it about half way. For the first few days it was hard to sleep and the pain consumed my thoughts throughout the day. For the next few weeks the pain existed, but only when I moved my finger, so I was less conscious of the pain.
Suddenly, yesterday, I remembered that my finger had been hurting and realized it was no longer hurting – I am not even sure when it stopped hurting. So typical with pain. We notice when it is there, but we do not always seem to notice when it disappears. I spent a few weeks feeling a bit sorry for myself and then, suddenly, I was no longer aware of my finger and back into my daily routine.
This made me sad. Don’t get me wrong, I was very happy that my finger had healed! I was sad because I realized it was easy to be upset and grumpy and miserable when something went wrong, but when it was “right” again I felt nothing. It took me days to realize that I was healed and that perhaps I should express some sort of gratitude that I am no longer in pain.
Today, 82 days ’til 40, I hope I will pause and be thankful for the little things, I want to stop and notice when things go right, not just when they go wrong. I want to live my life with more gratitude.
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
buckwheatsrisk
December 1, 2012 at 00:12
how true is that! i’m glad your finger is better!
400daystil40
December 1, 2012 at 20:13
Thank you!!! 🙂 🙂
Mark
December 1, 2012 at 00:39
I’ve found this to definitely be true. It’s sad, but pain does make me a grumpy-poo. I wish that weren’t the case. In addition to gratitude for when we feel well, it is good to feel compassion for when others are grumpy – maybe they’re in pain. 😦
400daystil40
December 1, 2012 at 20:12
Yes, pain can make me really grumpy as well….. it is a good reminder that there may be more going on for a person when they are not treating others so well.
Lani Longshore
December 1, 2012 at 00:44
I think you have the right idea – gratitude for the gift of healing, gratitude to help with healing.
400daystil40
December 1, 2012 at 20:11
Very good points! Ido think gratitude helps with healing.
June
December 1, 2012 at 00:46
So absolutely true! Thanks for that perspective!
400daystil40
December 1, 2012 at 20:10
You are welcome! 🙂
brinkofbedlam
December 1, 2012 at 00:59
Lovely, and so very true. x
400daystil40
December 1, 2012 at 20:09
🙂
mountainmae
December 1, 2012 at 01:57
I celebrate that you did realize the pain was gone and took the moment to be grateful.
400daystil40
December 1, 2012 at 20:09
Thank you!!!
appletonavenue
December 1, 2012 at 05:17
As someone who lives with almost daily pain (albeit not severe), I too learned to enjoy the pain-free days. They are precious to be sure. Why it takes injury or illness to make us stop taking life for granted. I wish I hadn’t allowed so much of my life to pass me by. Apparently we learn as we age. 🙂
400daystil40
December 1, 2012 at 20:09
Yes, I think this is a lesson we learn as we age, although I learned this lesson for the first time after I was in a bad car accident at age 27…. it took many years for me to heal and I found that I really no longer took my health for granted. I learned this lesson earlier then many people have to, but it was a very important lesson to learn.
appletonavenue
December 1, 2012 at 22:24
Sorry you had to learn so young. That’s a tough one.
Another Thousand Words
December 1, 2012 at 07:03
It is good that was only a sprain, 400…many people experience constant pain (I do)…some learn to live with it (I have), others find it consumes their every moment, making them very bitter. For me, the pain is part of living…something to surmount. Utilizing ‘mind over matter’ goes a very long way in that the pain seems not quite as bad…a positive outlook helps also. At 66 and a half, I believe I must ‘keep going’…and I guess my belief is pretty strong, because I do!
Have a lovely weekend…all of you!
400daystil40
December 1, 2012 at 20:08
Yes, I had about five years (following a very bad accident) when I was in constant pain – it made life so challenging. It is so hard to have the energy to keep going when constant pain is a part of daily life. I was very lucky that eventually my body repaired itself – I realize not everyone is as fortunate as I have been.
Another Thousand Words
December 2, 2012 at 02:57
Sorry to hear you had to get through something so horrible, 400…the body DOES repair itself, constantly, yet in some cases, never fully. Thankfully, you’ve recovered…and are here to post your marvelous wisdom!
Hope your Saturday has been a ‘restful’ one, as should be your Sunday!
400daystil40
December 2, 2012 at 20:13
Thank you! My Saturday was very restful, but I had to work all day Sunday… I have to for the next two weeks in a row!
Another Thousand Words
December 3, 2012 at 07:19
But then…you DO get a bit of vacation, right?
400daystil40
December 3, 2012 at 22:17
Yes, I do!
Another Thousand Words
December 4, 2012 at 04:28
YAY!!!
sakuraandme
December 3, 2012 at 08:53
This is true I think of many of us! Great post and I’m glad your finger is better! …..Paula x
400daystil40
December 3, 2012 at 22:17
Thank you!