Get Comfortable

Some people choose paths of great rigor with the anticipated result of excellence. This choice may be made for a career such as medicine or law. The choice may be part of personal life. Parents devote long hours and sleepless nights over the course of years hoping that their efforts will make a meaningful difference in their children's lives. Monks and nuns willingly embrace a spartan path seeking excellence of the mind and heart. We, too, are on a path of rigor, but not as the result of choice. Though we may pursue excellence in dealing with chronic pain, we may feel the weight of this unchosen path.

What do we do with the dark days? What do we do when we are simply overwhelmed by life as we know it? I was born inside the snowbelt in Syracuse, N.Y. When snow is a part of your life, it can provide wonderful opportunities. I recall my Dad building us igloos with blocks of snow and taking us sleigh riding. Snow can also provide an environment best avoided. Aside from the dangers presented by ice, being outside in the midst of a snowstorm can be a miserable experience. Shielding your face from stinging ice pellets isn't exactly a "winter wonderland" experience. On those days, it's best to be inside with a hot cup of tea or cocoa, curled up under a quilt, watching the snow from a place of safety and warmth.

This is exactly where we want to be on our dark days. We don't have to be in the midst of our storm every day. Sometimes it's best not to be. It's best to take a break and provide ourselves some comfort during the storm. We can recall that we will figure this out . . . but not today. Today is for breathing, relaxing, and putting it all out of our minds. A hot cup of tea or cocoa, a warm quilt, a good book or movie, and a window with a view of nature can provide a much needed respite. When you find yourself having a dark day, the best idea may just be to go inside, get comfortable, and wait until the storm plays itself out.