“Pain is a part of being alive, and we need to learn that. Pain does not last forever, nor is it necessarily unbeatable, and we need to be taught that.” – Harold Kushner
I am in pain but I am not going to complain. My neck and shoulder has throbbed all night but I know it could be worse. I could be dead, laying in a hearse. Just like joy, pain is a part of our lives. It could be spiritual, physical, or emotional pain… This shit it all hurts the same. However, it is a part of life. A wise man once told me, there are things I can control and there are some that I can’t… This pain is something that I cannot control, does not matter what meds I take the pain still comes back. With that said, I can change my attitude, thoughts, behaviors and beliefs about the situation. I could continue to sit and wallow in my self-pity and complain about it until my little heart is content. Oh, the choice I have to make…
For too long I focused on the injury as if it defines me. However, you and I both know it is not who I am nor what I believe in… I think it is time to look at this situation through a different lens and perspective… A good friend told me that I need to take this situation in spoonfuls… Some days it will be teaspoon, some days it will be tablespoon, and other days it may be one of those big black serving spoons … Either way take my spoonful of this situation, celebrate the good and keep it moving on the bad. Instead of focusing on the pain, celebrate the progress that I am making in physical therapy. No matter how small the progress is. It will compound on top of each other resulting in big progress.
As I type this blog post, I can’t help but to notice the words, “NO STRUGGLE, NO PROGRESS,” tattooed on my right wrist. It is emblematic to what I learn growing up in Detroit… Which is that you had to go through the struggle, pain, and bullshit to make progress and find victory. I wear this tattoo proudly on my wrist as a reminder of the entire struggle that I been through and all the progress that I have made because of it. I know there others who going through the struggle, I want to you know that struggle is a part of life and without struggle we would not have the opportunity to prove our toughness, perseverance, determination, and drive to ourselves… Because once we have our minds made up, nothing can stop us. Therefore, I urge to take that spoonful of pain and struggle no matter how disgusting it taste and keep it moving…Focus all the good things that will come from this situation…
Until next time,
300 Pounds and Running
