You could be forgiven for expecting it will be 'chronically painful' for
you to read and consider what follows. But my hope is that it isn't too
unbearable to read about the different aspects of chronic pain affecting
millions of us.

You're Joking

I remember specialists offering their opinions and options for managing failing health issues creeping through my body and mind. On more than a few occasions, the knee-jerk reaction of saying, "You're joking!" was so tempting. I suppose it was a good thing I didn't say what I thought then and there. As health deteriorates over time, frustration has boiled away not far under a very thin veneer of trying to cope with where things appear to be heading.

Every now and then, I manage a wry smile to myself, thinking of the likely issues I might confront as I grow older. Never for a minute, did I imagine I would be dealing with things as I am today. I don't think I'm feeling sorry for myself; just working through (once more) what life is like now. In my darker moments, I am sure getting older is everything it's cracked up to be! I don't like it one bit. But there's little I can do to avoid it. The deeper truth of this was driven home when I did facetime with my grandson and his dad. Somehow we got onto family birthdays and how old each of us are. This precious 7yr old asked how old I was. After his dad told him I was 73yrs old, he stared at me then at his dad and said with some force and a shocked look on his face, "You're joking!! It was obvious he could not understand how anyone so old could still be alive. Just as well he's my grandson. There are times when I think his confusion is quite understandable. Still, tomorrow is another day for this apparent dinosaur

From Imagining to Reality

A bit more on Courage