Illness

What have you been taught about illness? I was taught at a young age to suck it up and move on. You may think this is admirable but it is not. Because of this I have failed to listen to my own body and continued to due behaviors that hurt my body. There are times when you need to push through - like when you have a cold or tired legs - but you have to know when to say when. Your body is giving you a clue that something is not right and if you fail to listen - the situation will only get worse. I lost my best friend to cancer because she did not listen to her body and ignored all the warning signs that knocked on her door. There is another way this philosophy is not healthy for you - when you place that philosophy on another person. I have found that by expecting other people to do the same thing I am lacking compassion for them and their situation. I am saying "Your pain is not valid to me". I see this most in my own relationship. My partner has chronic pain and I have struggled to deal with that reality. If I am not aware of myself and my actions I find that I am lacking compassion and understanding for how she is feeling. She then gets angry and upset with me and that only makes her condition worse. I need to realize that other people do not have the same tolerance for pain and that other people are in better tune with their bodies. I need to respect that. I need to have compassion for my partner when she is in pain and willingly want to help her. I need to push through me own attitudes and show the love and caring that I have for her. This has been an on-going struggle for me but I will find that place of compassion. My challenge for you is to find that place of compassion and show it to someone in need today.