November is a month (typically) filled with posts of gratitude and daily updates on what people are most thankful for, but when you have chronic pain/illness Thanksgiving can be very difficult.
I am not going to sit here and say that being thankful is easy… it is NOT. I’m lucky enough to have things in my life that keep me grounded and that I am extremely grateful for. But more often than not I feel quite the opposite. I grumble at the prospect of another medical test, I moan about how desperately I want to eat the foods I used to be able to eat, and I cry for the life that I “should” have had before my body rejected me. I don’t like feeling this way, but I recognize that it is my human nature to want something better than what life has given me.
I used to suppress that part of my personality. I would always put on my mask of gratefulness and fake my way through life. There are a lot of times I still have to do that (I work in customer service, I have no choice), but I refuse to be an artificial version of myself with those I care about. They deserve better and so do I.
Some people can’t take it. There are people that look at me and all they see if that bubbly girl that used to have so much life! Now I’m always so “cynical”, when did this happy person get so cynical?! A- I’m not, I just roll with what life gives me. If life gives me one piece of crap after another, I can’t be held responsible for my attitude. B- I have always been this way, now I’m just not faking my way through my day.
Does that mean I’m never grateful? No, of course not. As I said above, I have so many things to be grateful for and I am, very much so. I just find that when in constant pain, it can be difficult to express properly. Just typing a daily “today I’m thankful for…” post feels empty. I’m in no way saying people shouldn’t do those posts! If that is helpful for them, go for it. For me, it’s just another thing I have to fake my way through, I can’t do that anymore.
Every day my gratitude is expressed in the things I do, not in the words I say. I tell my kids how much I love them. I thank my husband for all he does for me on a daily basis. I work until I can hardly stand it anymore, because I love my job and I appreciate the opportunities it provides me. I do whatever I can for my extended family, because they’ve done so much for me.
I’m blessed to have people in my life that care about me, I know this. I wish everyone could experience that love. I also have pain, I do not wish that pain on anyone… ever. So when I say I’m grateful for anything, it is huge. Monumentally huge! My body is literally fighting me, every single minute, of every day. I will not make empty promises, nor will I pretend to be grateful for what I do not have.
For those that do not have someone in your life that helps you, there is still hope. There will always be that one thing to get you through. Simply find it. Grasp on to it and do not let go. Don’t let anyone push you to be anyone or anything you’re not. If you’re in pain, never let anyone invalidate that feeling. You’re allowed to express how you feel! You are important. You. Are. Important!
Finally, I am thankful for you… really.
A Spot For Me 