No Pain, No Gain
Why is it that things frequently have to get worse before they get better? It seems so wrong, yet undeniably true. No pain, no gain. Why can’t these things just get better without the pain part? I realize that might put a few people out of work, but it would save most of us a lot of time, money, and misery.
Why, you may be wondering, is she ranting about this now? I’ll tell you why, and no, I’m not talking about exercise. That’s not it. I don’t really work out. It’s surgery. Yup, I had to undergo a surgical procedure not too long ago – not fun. And someone in my inner circle just had major surgery. She’s laid up for now, but I’m sure that once her convalescence is complete, she will, as I was, be much improved. It’s just not a pleasant thing to go through.
All of these things begin in a similar way. Some ache or pain becomes a problem, and you finally have to face the fact that it’s not going to go away on its own. So what do you do? You seek medical attention. You get poked, prodded, and x-rayed until your physician announces that he or she has zeroed in on the problem, and, if you’re lucky, the good news is it’s completely fixable. The bad news? You’re going under the knife. You will be rendered unconscious, and the doctor will then open you up, make the necessary repairs which may involve replacement parts, close your back up, and send you on your way in a few days. Shoot. You were hoping you could swallow a few pills and that would take care of it. It rarely works that way. You just have to take that leap of faith, move forward, and get it over with.
If you’re starting to think I’m sounding a little unappreciative of the miracles of modern medicine, let me assure you that I am most definitely not. I am extremely grateful for medical science, and I think doctors are amazing. They not only ease suffering, but they save lives. A lot of us wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. So if you need to have a “procedure,“ and most people will at some point in their lives, just grin and bear it. Then, once you’re recovered and feeling better, take a minute to stop and think about how incredibly fortunate you are to be living in a time when there are people who can make those medical issues disappear. It really is miraculous, you know. If only it could be pain-free. If only, if only.