Life is a gift. Every single breath of life is a gift.
Every. Single. One.
Chronic Pain is a Gift.
Every day in the last 2 years I have experienced pain of some sort – some days are better some days are not so great. But every day has been a gift.
Chronic pain forces you to take a deeper look at your life. It forces you to re-examine the not so good. It forces you to make your health a priority- something you may have ignored before.
Prior to my health issues- my life was so- so. I was lost, could not figure out what my passions were, I felt half dead- and didn’t believe I would ever have the focus or drive to go after anything. I repeat- chronic pain is a gift.
Like so many of you- discovering that I had to cut out foods came overwhelming, depressing and quite simply turned my world upside down.
My world needed to be turned upside down.
My new marriage was a struggle. I fell in love with a man that is just as stubborn and strong willed as I. A man that challenged me to my core- a man that I was madly in love with but also hated some days. Throw Chronic Pain into the equation and things can get ugly. Really Ugly. It needed to happen. It pushed us to our breaking point- a point in which we could only build up. This husband of mine wanted to fix the problem- he spent so much time trying to diagnose me- he felt angry because he could not solve the problem. In time he learned that I didn’t need him to provide the solution- I just needed the love, affection and affirmation.. that I would find my own way.
Chronic Pain offers opportunity for rebirth. It forces you to open closed doors. It forces you the question your Doctors, your life, your happiness. your habits, your passions and so much more.
I encourage each of you to take your physical and emotional pain and turn it into something beautiful.
Don’t feel guilty for the fact that now you must question everything. Don’t ever stop questioning. When it comes to your health- you deserve the best. But the fact is- that only you can find the answers. If your doctor can’t provide relief or the answers you need- find another. and another. Don’t give up!
Each day you have a choice to wake up smiling- or to wake bitter and angry.
You can choose to persevere or to give up.
I believe that there is a solution to all health problems, to all pain.
I’m finding my answers. Little by little my pain has lessened. I have found my passions, discovered a career that I bound out of bed to start each day.
Its just a matter of time until you find your answers- your way. Just as long as you keep searching. 
Love and Encouragement to EACH OF YOU!
Big XO,
Brittany
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
You are absolutely right!! I haven’t found my passion to make me jump out of bed yet, lol. I am working on that though!! I am so happy in the end your husband offers the love and support you need. That is something that is making my chronic pain harder to live with. We all need someone like your husband. My husband just doesn’t “get it”
Take care and thank you for such an inspiring article!! Barbara
Oh Barbara- I was right there with you for a very long time. Men and women deal with things very differently and sometimes the biggest issues is finding a way to communicate needs to that they can really be understand. While my marriage is not perfect- and I'm sure will always be a work in progress- I'm thankful. One day- you too will leap out of bed! Life is short- make sure to spend time doing the things you love! xoxox
Beautiful post, Brittany. Very well said.
Thanks SO much Deanna! xo
You are a very inspiring woman! I needed to hear this message today. Thanks!
Awesome, I just sent this to a friend who has suffered from Degenerative Disc Disease since 2005 and lives in constant pain.
Thank you Bernadette for sharing my site! Hope you are having a wonderful day!
While it sucks that you suffer from chronic pain, I'm happy and impressed with your attitude toward it. Keep on living, girl! *hugs*
Thanks Girl!! xoxo
xo to you Brittany.
Love, love and more love to you Maggie!!!
What a beautiful post Brittany!
It was the chronic pain of a herniated disk in my back that ended my last marriage…a marriage that needed to be brought to an end. It was the chronic pain of celiac and working through that healing process that brought my friend, now my husband and I together.
Thank you for bringing perspective to our life. xo
Funny how life works! I believe firmly that everything happens for a reason. So glad you found a good man and happiness! much love!
Love this Brittany! It almost brought me to tears, as I'm sitting here feeling frustrated by my reaction to something I just ate! It's a great reminder that something good can always come from something that seems bad. And like you, I've discovered a career that I love out of this journey towards being healthy, so even when the pain is at its worst, I can thank it for giving me something to focus on and feel passionate about.
Love you Girl!! (as if you didn't already know!) I have the greatest partner in crime of all time! xo
What a beautiful, powerful post! Straight from your heart to ours. Thank you so much for sharing with the world your wonderful, insightful blog.
Oh Coletta THANK YOU! I'm so happy to share! xo
Thank you for this Brittany, feeling very low today as in pain, reading this has shown me i can come through the other side…
You will Pauline! Just give it time- and keep searching for answers! xoxox
Thank you for posting this. It was beautiful and inspiring as I try so desperately to figure out which foods to eliminate from my diet to get rid of my constant pain. I haven’t figured it out yet but I have no intention of giving up on me, my wonderful family, or life!
Tracy- you will figure it all out. If you can- I\’d really suggest cutting out everything ( all grains/dairy/corn/Soy/dairy/gluten) for just a few weeks if you can hack it. Hard I know- but then you might start to feel better at a faster pace. After almost 2 years- I recently found some relief in cutting out grains and starches. I never saw that coming..
Best of luck to you!! Love your positivity. Xo