Pain

Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

_______________________________________

I have a new respect for pain

for almost a year I have woken up with pain somewhere

knee

back

neck

shoulder

I am told by my wise doctor that it is all tied together

and it all adds up

after a life time of feeling healthy

this is a new experience

waking up not to vitality, but to pain, somewhere

woven into the fabric of the day is also

the mental pain

the regrets, pain caused

the wounds, pain received

I find I cannot unwind the pain

Mental and physical

They feed on each other

I can only embrace them

The physical

And the emotional

I can only embrace the wounded tattered child

With  self-compassion and generosity