Pain and Working Out

I was working out this morning and when I finished with my workout and was cooling down before my shower, this thought popped in my head. I stop working out periodically because it hurts. I know that sounds kind of like a duh! moment but there's more to it. When it hurts I begin to feel alive. And when I feel alive, emotionally I hurt. I start to remember all these painful events in my life. After a while it starts to hurt so much that numb is a welcome relief.

My mother told me a story from when she was in her early 20's. Her brother had been in a motorcycle accident and had recently died. She had been feeling sorry for herself, which was understandable, but not very helpful. She had asked the question why was this happening to her. Now, understand she and her brother were very close and she was hurting a lot. Mom's grandmother, well she got annoyed with Mom feeling so sorry for herself. She looked at my mom and said, "Why not you?" My mom was stunned. How could her grandmother, who she adored, be so cruel in her moment of agony. Gram went on to explain.

"No one gets out of life without hurting. If you're in pain, then you're alive. And that's better than the alternative."

I know she didn't say anything about the good times, or times when she was happy. She didn't comfort my mom, she didn't reassure her, she just insisted my mom look at reality. My mom should be grateful for the pain cause it meant she wasn't dead. Pain was a gift. It hurt but it was better to live with the pain than to be numb and dead inside.

I've been numb inside for 15 years. Gram was right. Pain is hard but it's better than numb.

Time to workout more and feel more alive. It may hurt for a while but if I keep it up eventually all the pains and injuries will subside. And alive will be full of joy and happiness.

Thank you Gram. Thank you God.