[…] my place here. I’m confident that I’ll return to America a new and stronger woman. Growth isn’t always fun, but I’m beginning to understand other cultures on a much deeper level. And that’s […]

Nobody likes a long, stuffy car ride. Or a five-hour layover in the Denver airport because your dad had to return the rental car before noon so as not to be charged for another day (sorry, Dad, but I’m forever bitter). In these moments, you may be stir crazy, frustrated and ready to just arrive already. And the second you hop out of the car or step off the plane, the not-so-enjoyable journey fades to black in a blink. It’s not hard to agree with this, but when this concept applies to pain and growth, it’s all too easy to have tunnel vision. We all know growth is necessary for life whether it’s physically or emotionally. But honestly, growth sucks. It hurts and isn’t all pink bubblegum and soft kitties. I’ve often heard the example that growth is like giving a vaccine to a baby: it hurts in the moment, but it’s necessary for optimal health. While I agree with this illustration, I’d like to take it a step further to separate growth into two categories: personal choice and beyond yourself.
Any time a person mentions the words “root” and “canal,” it’s inevitable that there will be a subsequent UGHHH IM SO SORRY HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE. I’ve been *fortunate enough* to have this painful surgery, and no, it wasn’t my favorite experience in life. But without this surgery, my broken tooth would’ve caused me a lifetime of pain, and I only would’ve been able to eat on the right side of my mouth. It wasn’t entirely convenient to have a mint rubber sheet and lots of metal tools in my mouth for an hour, but this pain was undoubtedly necessary for me to heal and move on with my life. I chose this temporary pain for myself (even though I didn’t want to), but it was fully beneficial. And now I often forget I even had the surgery and that I have a piece of porcelain in my mouth. So many things in life like a tough job interview or college course may be uncomfortable in the moment, but they pay off in the end. The deadline or recovery time is in sight which makes the journey a bit more comfortable. It’s important to challenge ourselves so as to grow as an individual.
okay good to say no and that I am responsible for advocating for myself. I’m beginning to understand grace and that some things are not humanly possible. At the end of the day, anxiety has left me with more scars than I care to share, but the lessons and values I’ve developed from this experience have radically changed my life and my ability to live it abundantly. And it all began with my trip to Los Angeles. Pain caused by other people or unforeseeable circumstances is beyond your control, but choose to grow from these experiences.
You’ve heard the cheesy quote that “life is about the journey, not the destination.” But sometimes I wonder if this person ever felt hurt, angry or frustrated in her entire life. Because seriously, life hurts sometimes. The journey is definitely important and makes us who we are today, but if you lack vision and the big picture, your journey is just going to be a round-about: pointless and never-ending. Your journey may include pain, but your ultimate destination is growth. Know that you will arrive eventually.
In Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, the authors write, “Grief is a form of validation; it says the wound mattered. It mattered. You mattered. That’s not the way life was supposed to go. There are unwept tears down in there… Let the tears come.” This struck such a chord with me. It’s okay to be sad; it’s good. Grieving is good.
Bises,
Kristin
{How do you seek out encouragement when you feel pain?}
Hi Kristin. A great post! Thank you for sharing it with me. I will take your advice and keep my chin up through this difficult part of my journey 🙂 Take care. Carly
Yes, ma’am, Carly! And you’re not in the journey alone!
Hi Kristen. I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award! I love reading your blog…Here is the link https://myhearinglossstory.wordpress.com/2017/03/17/nomination-for-one-lovely-blog-awardthank-you/?preview=true Take care. Carly