The Pleasure of Pain

Like an unwelcome house guest, arriving unannounced and overstaying their welcome, pain showed up at my door about 10 years ago and has taken up (what feels like) permanent residence in my body. There are days when he walks almost silently beside me and others when he is relentlessly clamoring for attention. And, like anything unwanted, I have attempted everything I know of to get rid of my unwelcome guest...surgeries, injections, medication - I've had my fair share of them all. And yet, for whatever reason, pain has become a part of my life and though there are days when I would not choose to say this, pain has been a wonderful teacher of many things to me.

In these past 10 years I have come to a greater understanding of the mind-body-spirit connection. This has been the greatest gift that pain has given me. I have come to see where latent, repressed emotions hide within my body. I have experienced powerful, immediate decreases in pain when I engage my soul and allow healing to flow into the recesses of my emotions. I have experienced dramatic shifts in pain by using my mind to speak truth to my body (thank you, Louise Hay, for your gift of wisdom in this area). And, I can honestly say, that learning these things has allowed me to change my life in huge ways. For that I am ever grateful to have become a close friend of pain.

My friendship with pain has also given me compassion and empathy. In fact I would have to say that pain has allowed me to become a compassionate, empathetic person rather than a person who shows compassion. Empathy is now woven into the fabric of who I am and I find myself gripped with a deep ache for others who must experience pain. I would not, on any day, trade this gift in for a refund.

As strange as it may sound pain has afforded me the ability to experience pleasure. I have come to understand that pain and pleasure are on opposite sides of the same continuum. You don't get to have one without the other and the presence of pain offers a contrast with which to feel pleasure. I can honestly say that I enjoy my life now measurably more than I did before I had the pleasure of meeting pain. I am much more grateful and much more engaged in all that is happening in my life, especially when I am feeling good. I no longer take for granted being able to take a walk or exercise. I am astounded at the things I have overcome and the victories-both large and small-that I have had over the past few years. I have gained a strength within me that I believe I would not possess if it weren't for pain. It's an interesting thing and one that is rather difficult for me to describe.

So today, a day where my companion is clamoring for attention, I want to put the energy out there that I am thankful for the pleasure of pain; I am grateful for all I have learned and no doubt will continue to learn on this journey.

-Peace