One surprising, counter-intuitive fact I've learned in life is about contrast. Contrast teaches us. We normally recoil from it but shouldn't.
We don't know what something is until we experience its opposite. Hot teaches us about cold. Anxiety teaches us about calm. Pain shows us the value of its absence.
My work-life was full of anxiety. I prayed for boredom to relieve me of it. If I had felt boredom without the contrast of stress, I wouldn't have realized its virtue.
Since last Summer I now have physical pain almost every day somewhere in my body. Often it's excruciating. At first that disturbed me -- but now I'm grateful when I don't have pain. Without the pain I wouldn't appreciate its (temporary) relief.
You are correct about contrast but it's a hard way to learn. Gratitude needs to be a daily practise.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
I agree. Thanks for contributing, Suzanne.
DeleteNothing like chronic pain to make you appreciate a lack of pain. I've been down with the flu this week. I ran a high fever for about a day and during that time, my other pain disappeared. It was actually less painful being 'traditionally' sick than my chronic illness. I'm more recovered today, but the other pain creeps back in.
ReplyDeleteI hope for more less painful for both of us in the future. At least stress free ones where boredom is our worst complaint!
Boy, you're right. I share in that wish for better days.
DeleteThere was an old British TV comedy called "Blackadder" starring Rowan Atkinson. The story took place in feudal England. Rowan's character was explaining to a serf what a vacation is: "It's when the King stops beating you for a bit." Ha!
That's true.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson of pain is a hard one but we do learn by contrast.
I honestly don't think I would have accomplished half I did in my life hadn't I been so chronically ill. I think I was just naturally chill (almost lazy), but having a chronic illness made me work really hard.
Perhaps it is because I feel like every day could be my last day of being able to get things done. The last day of being able to work and do something meaningful.
Plus, when you're in pain for long periods of time, you don't really have the option of just relaxing. Keeping busy can sometimes be better than resting because it takes the attention away from the pain.
We share both experiences and our responses to them. I understand your thinking completely. Thank you for contributing.
DeleteI often use this contrast analogy when I talk to people about emotions, especially the striving for happiness. Emotions aren't a state you reach and then just...stay there. They come and go, like all emotions do. You don't truly enjoy the small moments of happiness until you've experienced pain and sadness and suffering.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you are in constant pain, Ally. <3 That really sucks.
I love the last sentence of your first paragraph: so true. And regarding the second paragraph: it is what it is. Fortunately I'm not in constant pain, just frequent pain. I have periods of relief that enable me to re-gather my strength (physical and emotional). My life could be worse. I have that Pollyanna-ish glass-half-full attitude!
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