Whenever a person becomes afflicted by a disease or must deal with a congenital issue, the tendency is to feel sorry for ourselves. Such conditions typically are viewed in a negative light. We bemoan the fact that we're disabled, limited or unable to enjoy the "good life" that other people possess.
One of the reasons for this perspective is that pain and/or limited mobility is a real bummer. Few people that I have met in my 52+ years look forward to painful circumstances or situations. We each want to feel good and to savor all the beauty, joy and pleasure this life has to offer. Various forms of debilitation interfere with this kind of universal desire.
As someone who has lived with chronic pain almost my entire life, I frankly will admit that there are times I wish I had not been dealt this hand. There are times I look at others with envy as they play and frolic. Fortunately, such times are few and far between. Generally, I'm not one to play the "Why me?" game. More often than not, I simply accept my life for what it is.
Growing older has sharpened my perspective to some extent. I now realize that, in a manner of speaking, my infirmities have been a blessing in disguise. Because of my autism, I've had the opportunity to delve deeper into my mind and imagination than most people. Since I don't engage in the kinds of social interaction that most people do, I have been afforded more time to explore the foundational questions of humankind. Were it not for my social isolation, this blog may never have come into being.
My fibromyalgia has been a blessing too, though my pain level has been extra high the past few days which explains my fall off in posting. One of the points the ancient Taoist sages write about is that of cycles. As it turns out, fibromyalgia is a cyclical condition: periods of immense pain followed by brief respites of remission. Consequently, through this ailment, I've come to have a more intimate understanding of the cyclical nature of life.
My point here is that, whatever circumstances life offers us, it provides the opportunity to gain insight. Often times, it's the things we dread that allow us to grow far more than the things we crave. When we are forced to deal with adversity head on, we learn what we are made of. It's when we can look pain and suffering in the eye and not blink that we know we are the most alive.
One of the reasons for this perspective is that pain and/or limited mobility is a real bummer. Few people that I have met in my 52+ years look forward to painful circumstances or situations. We each want to feel good and to savor all the beauty, joy and pleasure this life has to offer. Various forms of debilitation interfere with this kind of universal desire.
As someone who has lived with chronic pain almost my entire life, I frankly will admit that there are times I wish I had not been dealt this hand. There are times I look at others with envy as they play and frolic. Fortunately, such times are few and far between. Generally, I'm not one to play the "Why me?" game. More often than not, I simply accept my life for what it is.
Growing older has sharpened my perspective to some extent. I now realize that, in a manner of speaking, my infirmities have been a blessing in disguise. Because of my autism, I've had the opportunity to delve deeper into my mind and imagination than most people. Since I don't engage in the kinds of social interaction that most people do, I have been afforded more time to explore the foundational questions of humankind. Were it not for my social isolation, this blog may never have come into being.
My fibromyalgia has been a blessing too, though my pain level has been extra high the past few days which explains my fall off in posting. One of the points the ancient Taoist sages write about is that of cycles. As it turns out, fibromyalgia is a cyclical condition: periods of immense pain followed by brief respites of remission. Consequently, through this ailment, I've come to have a more intimate understanding of the cyclical nature of life.
My point here is that, whatever circumstances life offers us, it provides the opportunity to gain insight. Often times, it's the things we dread that allow us to grow far more than the things we crave. When we are forced to deal with adversity head on, we learn what we are made of. It's when we can look pain and suffering in the eye and not blink that we know we are the most alive.
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