Throughout history, the suffering patient has had an uneasy role in society. In biblical times, lepers, the blind, the lame, and other ill or physically challenged people were often ostracized and thought to be or inhabited by evil. Moving toward modernity, sickness has been and still is sometimes viewed as a scourge visited upon those who are somehow out of favor with God. In the secular world, the sick may not be considered “bad,” but they are often viewed as weak, mis-directed, or completely helpless victims.

But, we who live in the trenches know better. No matter how much we may suffer pain and illness, deep down, we know the truth: We are strong. Incredibly strong. Resiliently strong. Brilliantly strong.

Really!

Think about it. Think about all you have been through, and yet here you are, reading this blog (for which I thank you!). Consider everything that you manage to do with and in spite of your health challenges. Remember and recall those feelings of determination, drive, and care for others that propel you from one day to the next. Nothing weak about any of that. Only, strength!

Especially if today is a bad day for you, try to put forward in your thoughts all that makes you as strong as you are, and then remember all the good that comes from that strength. Make a list of these things, and carry it with you. Add to the list as you find, each day, more things that show your strength.

Yes, we cry, we punch pillows, we retreat to our quiet corners when things get particularly difficult. But never believe that these are shows of weakness. Because as sure as we may suffer, get down, express sorrow, we never stay down for long. We understand that chronic illness is ongoing, and the bad days are part of the whole.

And we understand that, through it all, we are strong, and in that strength, we will go on.

Blessings for the day,

Maureen