Life's Pains: A high tolerance isn't always a good thing....

Eddy, expert photo bomber...

It's Friday folks, so time for another Friday Night Thought Tale hour here at the Henderson's. I've been doing a lot of thinking this week about pain, and the ways it impacts our lives.  It all started when, after nearly two weeks of continuous complaining, my husband Chris finally went to the dentist to deal with a bad tooth.  Much to his dismay (but far from my surprise) he found out he required a Root Canal to fix it.  Of course, the appointment would need to be a week away, which meant that he would go through more days of the trauma.  It was just a 1 inch part of his body, and yet this little monster turned him into an inconsolable and annoying person.  He and I both marveled at how such a thing could swing the pendulum of a normally calm existence.  It got me thinking....

Perhaps it's where the pain resides that makes it powerful?

While I'm pretty good with being compassionate when faced with an emotionally hurting person, I seriously didn't miss my calling when I opted out of anything nurse-like for a career.  I'm that mom whose kid came in bleeding who used the butterfly bandage vs. running to the emergency room for stitches.  A sprained ankle was best healed by walking on it as soon as possible, and there is always an ice pack in my freezer.  My lack of concern for these obvious and outward pains is made even more hardened by what I am told is an abnormally high tolerance for pain.  It's got to be pretty ugly to bring me to a stop.  So as my husband whimpered and growled about his tooth, I had to reach deep to try and comprehend his pain.  It was then that I recalled a moment last year, when I tore off my big toenail in a quick move of vintage Joy gracefulness.  That small area brought me to my knees, and made my life very difficult for at least two weeks. You see, the big toe, much like my husband's molar, is surrounded by nerve endings, and when they are disturbed, they scream.  They demand attention.  They rule you.  So a small area of life that's surrounded by 'nerves' or a lot of your feeling center, will turn you upside down when it's inflicted.  

The big stuff of pain is kind of expected, but this little stuff....

A major surgery, or a bone breaking, or - getting more ethereal - a major emotional crisis really doesn't catch you by surprise when they floor you.  We are encouraged to release lamentations when dealing with the big stuff.  We are given a wide berth for healing, and then three cheers if we are able to bounce back quickly.  If Chris had broken his jaw or I had crushed my foot, a lot of down time and the requisite complaining would be in order.  Within moments of the event, our support teams would start to plan our rehabilitation.  Not to downplay these painful life potential or real events, but maybe they are not as needy of targeted attention by us as the smaller, less obvious pains.  It seems to me that perhaps those little pains can hold the greatest opportunity to bring you down as they grow stronger over the passage of time, as you attempt to ignore them and their wrath.  Eventually, they are out of control, and they will impact your ability to be healthy.  You find yourself responding in a less than capable way, just over this little area of monster pain.  Why do we try to be brave and end up cranky?

Maybe it's time for a root canal.

If we don't like how we are feeling or reacting to life, it might be time to find that small area(s) of pain that need to be addressed and therapy applied.  Maybe you had a big pain that you thought you had bounced back from, but now you realize there was a small area that is still festered and can stop you in your tracks.  Or maybe, there's something you've been able to ignore, but lately, it just won't release you.  You can only apply aspirin and clove oil so long, it might be time for a root canal. And that band aid will eventually have to be torn off and the right medicine applied.  Don't feel bad. We've all had pains that we didn't see coming.  The important thing is how you face them once they are there. The best form of self-medication is always taking action to get the help you need from outside yourself and from others.

So tonight, we will toast the road to healing, as Chris will mix a little libation with his painkillers (just Ibuprofen), and I will happily celebrate the end of "The Tooth Ordeal of 2014".  I'm making a little something I call "Didn't see that comin'" that fits it's name.  CHEERS FRIENDS!

Joy's "Didn't see that comin'" Cocktail

1 oz Gin

1 oz Anejo Rum

1 oz Espresso Vodka

1 oz Brandy

1 oz Apple Jack

1 1/2 oz Disarrono 

Pour all over ice in a shaker,  mix gently, pour into cocktail glass.  Garnish with an apple slice. Serves two

Don't forget to always drink responsibly!  Stay home.