What I Learned From Chronic Pain

1. know your limits -don't exceed them when you know it will only cause you more pain -push past them every day and embrace the sting 2. you aren't alone -not only this, but you alone are not enough -don't let them tell you that you are -you will only get through this with help 3. don't be afraid to cry -you will hate yourself, your life, your circumstances -basically, everything you are and have and do and... -but you are not defined by the times you trip, stumble, fall down, or crash and burn -you are defined by the times you rise from the ashes, wipe off your bloody and scraped palms, and fight again 4. vulnerability is ok -even if it's just you and your cat 5. tomorrow will be better than today -life is what you choose to make it -if you believe that tomorrow will be better, it will be -if you tell yourself you'll get through this, you will -even when it's not 6. you are stronger than you know -that body of yours can take a whole lot more punishment than you could ever believe -your mind is even stronger than your body -you are beautiful and powerful -the struggle is what makes everything worth it