‘Learn to Choose Your Pain and Do What Gives You Life’
copyright 2012 by Shiloh Moore

Id like to share with you two phrases I have developed over years of living with Chronic Illness.

First is a phrase I coined when in my teens, for those of us living with chronic illness (but obviously not totally bedridden): Learn to Choose Your Pain.

With chronic illness, Fibromyalgia and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, you are always in pain. You are never pain free. To keep your spirit surviving, it helps to prioritise what you spend your precious energy on. Learn to Choose Your Pain.

I started thinking about this before I was diagnosed, when I was 14 and struggling to attend school having been unable to play my flute for months. I came across a strange dilemma: I had a good day, when I had a rare glimpse of precious energy after school one day. I found myself wondering, should I be a good girl and do my homework, or could I spend this energy playing my beloved flute? Is I had a good day yesterday a valid excuse for not doing my homework yet again?!

After many more years of illness, I learned to prioritise. I learned that to keep your soul satisfied, sometimes you have to choose your pain. Everything with this illness hurts, everything you do triggers a payout. So choose what you do to cause the pain, and here comes my second phrase: Do What Gives You Life.

Sometimes its worth getting in trouble for not doing homework, to spend that precious energy playing. Do what gives you life.

Sometimes its worth having a friend visit even though the house is a mess. If you have to choose between either seeing the friend or cleaning, do what gives you life.

Sometimes its worth doing some art/seeing a friend/going to a movie or concert/going on an outing in a wheelchair/seeing nature/insert something fulfilling for you, even though you know you will have a payout as a consequence. Sometimes its these highlights to life, the things to look forward to and to remember, that keep us going. Of course, pace yourself and dont do something if the payout will be too extreme. But if you can, prioritise what you spend your energy on and choose to be in the inevitable pain for something that is worth it to you. Learn to Choose Your Pain, and Do What Gives You Life.

A healthy person can learn from this too. Within your busy schedule and list of commitments and responsibilities, learn to prioritise. Say no to doing too many things that are draining, nurture your soul and Do What Gives You Life.