Thankful for the Pain, 3rd Edition

This message has become an annual Thanksgiving tradition now. Each year I add a new chapter. It’s about being real, being vulnerable but also being hopeful and thankful. Ready for the 3rd Edition? Here goes!

Thankful For The Pain
I woke up early this morning thinking about what I’m grateful for. And my thoughts surprised me.
I’m thankful for the Pain.

YES, the PAIN.

That sounds like a weird thing to be grateful for, doesn’t it? I wasn’t thankful for it at first.
But what has happened as a result may not have happened without the pain!

So, I’m grateful for the physical PAIN I had 7 years ago. The nagging pain in my left hip and knees that didn’t get better on its own. The pain that pushed me to invest in my health and join a gym, which re-started my career in physical therapy. (if you haven’t heard that story, listen to my very first "Down There" Podcast episode)

I’m grateful for the financial PAIN I had at that time; without which I would not have been looking for a career change.

I can now truly say that I’m grateful for the PAIN of disappointment when plans that I had for my career didn’t work out like I had hoped. Without that pain, I would have never started my own physical therapy practice. I would never have met some of the wonderful and trusted colleagues and partners who are such a blessing to me.

It’s taken awhile, but I can now say I’m thankful for the PAIN of rejection. Rejection in any form hurts. There’s no denying that. I’ve dealt with a LOT of rejection as a business owner over the last 4 years. Maybe it’s gotten a bit easier over time, but it’s still unpleasant.

My former business coach once said, “Everything that happens to me, good or bad, God uses as an opportunity to bless someone else.” So I trust in that truth. The Pain of Rejection has:
--given me the tenacity and resiliency to face and overcome greater challenges as my business grows
--given me more strength and passion to advocate for those who also feel rejected and dismissed by their medical providers, by their friends, spouses, even themselves. It’s hard to find hope in a situation after such rejection, I can empathize with that much better now. It motivates me even more to offer that hope to others.  I’m thankful that God can use me, even when I mess up, to bless others.   
 
 I’m still thankful for those who told me I could NOT / should NOT do this because…
              --I’m too old to get back in the game
                           (Wrong! I’m the perfect age for this)
              --It’s too risky, better play it safe
                            (If I played it safe, you wouldn't be reading this!)
              --I’m not good enough
                           (Tell that to my clients whose lives have been changed by this!)
 
So…thanks for the comments that it couldn’t or shouldn’t be done. They just spurred me on to want this even more! To work harder, risk bigger, pray more, and ask for help when needed.
It’s not easy for me to ask for help. But I know that I can’t do this alone. The business, the vision, the mission is expanding far beyond just myself. That’s why…

I am SO grateful for the many people that God continues to place in my life to help me get to where I am now and to help keep me moving forward. Some I’ve known for years, others just for a short season. It was no accident that their knowledge, skills and support was exactly what I needed at just the right time. If you are one of those people, THANK YOU!

This past year has been filled with so much pain, I’m sure you can relate. For me, the best way I can describe it is: The PAIN of loss. During the COVID shutdown, I fought so hard to keep my practice afloat, to keep my clients safe, to hold space for them in a time of incredible stress and anxiety. But it has taken a heavy toll on me. No pun intended, but physically I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been, my fitness level has really taken a nosedive. It’s taken a toll on my mental health and energy. Several dear friends have moved far away and I miss them terribly. Several other friends have died, from cancer, from Covid.

Honestly, this chapter is still being written. I don’t know how things will turn out. I have a hard time being thankful for this pain of loss. But that hasn’t changed my resolve or my purpose. I do have many things to be grateful for in the midst of it.

It may sound crazy, but I’m finding a good side to the pain and disappointments.

I’ve been given an incredible and unique opportunity to help people. And they are so grateful to be able to find HOPE, to find healing, and to get more control over their pain, leakage, or other “down there” problems.
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How about you? What difficult or painful things are you now thankful for? I’d love to hear about it!