WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU HAVE PAIN?

DAY 33: I am glad I didn’t play it safe and stay home. It is also important to develop good memories during this time of illness.

So here’s the question, “Does it matter where you are when you are experiencing pain?” I have been thinking about that question since Friday while Greg and I were driving to Banff to meet our four adult kids and our grandson to watch our girls run in the Melissa 10KM run. I am still suffering from the effects of the treatment I had completed this week that pulls the mercury from my body so that I have even more symptoms to juggle. Fortunately, on Saturday I was still able to walk around the Banff area to cheer the girls while they ran. Our time here has been enjoyable but always requiring a concerted effort to “ignore” my symptoms. As I lay in bed last night with increasing pain, I began wondering if Greg and I were crazy to continue this holiday. But then I began thinking, “Would experiencing these symptoms be any easier if I was at home?” Yes, in many ways it would be! It is easier to go lie down at home and it is easier since I don’t feel the pressure to “push” as hard because I don’t want to jeopardize other people’s enjoyment. However, the flip side of those negatives is that I have the pleasure of being out of the house and the pleasure of spending time with my children and husband. Even though it has been a struggle, I now have memories that I would not have if I had stayed home. How sad to think I might have missed the following if I had chosen to play it safe and had stayed home rather than coming here for the weekend:

• Listening to a radio station that plays only 60’s music and seeing who could name the singer first – while Greg and I were driving to Banff

• Watching the girls participate in their run and to cheer them on

• Walking with my grandson who suddenly stopped to hug a tree

• Chatting with my son while he pushed the stroller; I especially enjoyed his story about a 3 year old boy who has 6-pack abs and can do chin lifts since his body has developed so much muscle

• Watching my daughter salivate over her pizza – dairy free that she hasn’t been able to eat for months since she has been on an elimination diet for health reasons

• Waking up in the morning and having breakfast with everyone

• Watching David show us how to do the Tree Pose since we girls were saying how hard it was to keep the leg from sliding down the leg

• Watching Greg try doing the Tree Pose, perhaps not quite as successfully!

• Listening to my son’s enthusiasm about the 100 Day Challenge that a motivational speaker has encouraged people to take by working hard to achieve a particular goal in a short period of time

• Appreciating my kids’ concern and kindness as they cope with a sick mom (or mother-in-law).

Today, Sunday, the kids return home and Greg and I begin our holiday. And even though I have considerable pain this morning, I look forward to sitting in the car with my seat slightly reclined and enjoying the drive. I think we will also listen to the radio station that plays only 70’s music to see if I can better compete with the driver when it comes to naming the artist of those songs!