in response to @scottrl You could not have said this more succinctly. Sometimes I walk around my apartment in such pain that I say to myself, "I wonder if this is what death feels like?" When I am feeling particularly horrible, I usually end up going online and submitting a compliment to someone at the doctor's office who was especially kind to me, and this always makes be feel better. Earlier this morning, when I was arranging a ride to the doctor on Thursday, I asked to be connected to the customer service department, where I submitted four compliments about the past several drivers I have had, as well as those women who took my reservations in the past and also for me today. I have a picture on my refrigerator with a photo of a town that got blown to pieces by a hurricane, and I put a sticker on it that says, "This is a bad day." This is not meant to minimize anyone's personal experience at all, but this is what works for me: keeping things in perspective. Last night my upstairs neighbor stopped me on my way to the store and said the following: "You were spraying something that smelled like spray paint on Sunday, and it bothers my allergies You have 5 days a week to do your art work, I only have two days off each week. Can you please do your spraying during the week?" My first thought was, "what do these people do when something really bad happens, such as losing a family member to a gunshot, or a burning house?" Of course, I was not spray painting, but rather using spray glue to adhere paper to cardstock, which took a total of 5 minutes. Last night it was all I could do not to take the can of glue and spray it upwards toward her apartment. Instead, I sent her a text message that I had been sick all week, as an artist I work when the moment strikes me, and if the smell bothers her I suggested she close her door until the odor dissipated. Suffice to say she will not be getting one of my beautiful handmade cards, as the glue might make her sick.
During my personal journey with pain, I understand how debilitating pain can be, not just on one's body but also their psyche. Sometimes I think, "maybe the next pill will help." Sometimes it does not, but this does not deter me from making a difference in someone else's day, which I do on a daily basis.