Thank you Jen, for another insightful read. You're right. Some pain is unavoidable. But it can be the motivator that rockets me into the right frame of mind.
In an anthology that includes Didion's essay, there's Ed (Ned) Hoaglund's 'The Threshold and the Jolt of Pain.' Here's a snippet: "Most severe on the physiologists' scale of pain is that of childbirth."
Like Hoaglund, my eyes had been opened to that particular experience. I had been brought up to believe men should withstand pain in its many forms. Then recently, I experienced a dull, constant pain in my right glute and hamstring. It kept me in bed for a day, and I gutted through the pain. After going to a physical therapist, she confirmed sciatica and suggested some stretches, "but not to the point of pain." My chiropractor believes the same. Relief comes, when it does, without pushing myself beyond my limits. An X-ray and an MRI confirms spinal aging, but no bone fracture.
I've gotten relief these past few weeks with dieting, daily stretching, and taking a week's powerful anti-inflammatory. Yet, I have found other pain beatable. In 1991, I ran a marathon. Around mile 18, I got a migraine headache. It disappeared (this had not happened before) and I finished the race. I have not been afflicted since. When it comes, I have learned to focus and not fear or curse it (much) seeing it as a notification, rather than an obstacle.
Eric Silverman
Gentle typo alert: Didion's essay is 'In Bed,' not 'On Bed'
So happy this resonated, Eric. The motivation factor is there indeed. I know, for me, even a touch of fear (I am feeling well now, but for how long?), keeps me doing and appreciating as much as possible. As a yoga teacher, I've seen a lot of sciatica (overdoing some yoga poses can aggravate if not cause it), so I'm glad you finding what works to balance your body. Thanks! I think I imposed my own titles on Didion. I do love her ability to speak on the page so clearly and with meaning, and I believe this essay was one of the first I read in college. Thanks for mentioning Hoaglund's as well.
It took me a long time to use pain or discomfort or heartache or any of these as a steppingstone to something else, eventually. And to simply try to see these aa "normal" -- that "normal" doesn't always mean "good" or "perfect" or even "pain free." That all of it - good and bad -- is normal and we shift back and forth all the time. What's the old saying about "dancing in the rain?" Easily said, not always ease to do. But if we somehow see pain, in all its manifestations, is just part of the journey, we can reckon with it. At least, that's my story; and I'm sticking to it.
Thank you Jen, for another insightful read. You're right. Some pain is unavoidable. But it can be the motivator that rockets me into the right frame of mind.
In an anthology that includes Didion's essay, there's Ed (Ned) Hoaglund's 'The Threshold and the Jolt of Pain.' Here's a snippet: "Most severe on the physiologists' scale of pain is that of childbirth."
Like Hoaglund, my eyes had been opened to that particular experience. I had been brought up to believe men should withstand pain in its many forms. Then recently, I experienced a dull, constant pain in my right glute and hamstring. It kept me in bed for a day, and I gutted through the pain. After going to a physical therapist, she confirmed sciatica and suggested some stretches, "but not to the point of pain." My chiropractor believes the same. Relief comes, when it does, without pushing myself beyond my limits. An X-ray and an MRI confirms spinal aging, but no bone fracture.
I've gotten relief these past few weeks with dieting, daily stretching, and taking a week's powerful anti-inflammatory. Yet, I have found other pain beatable. In 1991, I ran a marathon. Around mile 18, I got a migraine headache. It disappeared (this had not happened before) and I finished the race. I have not been afflicted since. When it comes, I have learned to focus and not fear or curse it (much) seeing it as a notification, rather than an obstacle.
Eric Silverman
Gentle typo alert: Didion's essay is 'In Bed,' not 'On Bed'
So happy this resonated, Eric. The motivation factor is there indeed. I know, for me, even a touch of fear (I am feeling well now, but for how long?), keeps me doing and appreciating as much as possible. As a yoga teacher, I've seen a lot of sciatica (overdoing some yoga poses can aggravate if not cause it), so I'm glad you finding what works to balance your body. Thanks! I think I imposed my own titles on Didion. I do love her ability to speak on the page so clearly and with meaning, and I believe this essay was one of the first I read in college. Thanks for mentioning Hoaglund's as well.
It took me a long time to use pain or discomfort or heartache or any of these as a steppingstone to something else, eventually. And to simply try to see these aa "normal" -- that "normal" doesn't always mean "good" or "perfect" or even "pain free." That all of it - good and bad -- is normal and we shift back and forth all the time. What's the old saying about "dancing in the rain?" Easily said, not always ease to do. But if we somehow see pain, in all its manifestations, is just part of the journey, we can reckon with it. At least, that's my story; and I'm sticking to it.
So true, David! I feel like so much of what I write on this blog is easy to say, not so easy to do. Meanwhile, it's so worth trying, I agree.