Pain

There are three kinds of pain - physical, mental and pain in the a..  Forget about pain in the a..  We all know those are the people we should avoid.  


Physical pain is different than mental pain, however, believe me, both hurt the same.  Physical pain can be taken care of with physical treatment, operations, drugs, talking to a therapist/mentor or all of the above.  Mental pain needs time, positive support from friends and family, drugs, talking to a therapist/mentor or all of the above.


Chronic physical pain is pain that won't be healed by treatment or operations.  Drugs can get you through the day, but we all know the downside of being addicted to drugs - can you spell "HOUSE."  Talking to a therapist/mentor can help a lot if you are willing to accept your pain.


I have chronic pain.  I've had a four level bone/disk fusion surgery in my neck because I lost the use of my left arm.  My arm is much better, but some of the pain and numbness is still there.  I have had and currently still have Spinal Stenosis.  This is an arthritic condition in my lower back that causes pain and numbness down my legs.  Operation is not recommended because the risk of permanent damage is high.  


WOW, is this blog a downer.  Not really.  As I have told you in previous blogs, these are the happiest years of my life.  How could that be?  It's not easy, but I have accepted my chronic pain.  It's part of who I am.  I have two choices, be miserable all the time and blame the outside world (and my father - he had the same condition) or accept what's happening and focus on the positive energy in my life.


The people who love me feel bad because I have this pain.  My response to them is:  "I'm OK.  It's just the bumpers.  My engine and transmission are in great shape.  I have accepted my lousy bumpers. 


I rarely talk about my pain because talking about it makes me focus on it.  Instead I focus my energy on the things I love.  The things that bring me positive energy.  The things that make me happy.  The love of my life, my Ellen, makes me happy.  Blogging makes me happy.  My dog Zita makes me happy.  Playing my guitar makes me happy.  My good friends make me happy.  The people I mentor make me happy.  Exercising makes me happy and, oh yes, Jerry Springer makes me happy - Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!!


I've also had mental pain.  Two divorces, my oldest son not talking to me, losing close friends who were angry with me because of my first divorce and losing all my money twice.  


The things that helped me through my mental pain and depression were, time to heal, a year and a half with my therapist/mentor, friends I didn't expect who supported me when I needed them the most, losing my anger, accepting what was happening for now, asking for what I wanted, but not demanding it, loving unconditionally even if I didn't get what I wanted and truly believing better days were coming.


Seeing the future as a positive can be a cure for all that pains you.  Believing life is worth living and living it to the fullest can be a cure for all that pains you. Focusing on what you have not what you don't have can be a cure for all that pains you.  Being around people that love and respect you can be a cure for all that pains you. Giving positive energy out to the universe can be a cure for all that pains you.


Most important, caring for and being there for the people who are in pain can be a cure for all that pains them.   Helping them get through their pain will make you happy.