We all know pain. Physical pain, and emotional pain. But while pain will come as a part of life, in more or less measure depending on what we do, if we go around spending all our energy trying to avoid it completely because we are afraid of it, we will be even more injured when it comes anyway. We’ll have spent lots of resources of all kinds thinking about pains that have not happened, or may never happen, or that haven’t happened yet.
While pain is inevitable, must we suffer from pain? Can we just observe pain, and be aware of it, while not suffering?
Recently I ran a Spartan Beast race. A 15-mile run with 60 intense obstacles. The Killington Beast in particular – the hardest one in the country for its steep ascents that go forever – and ever. I tried this theory out with physical pain. With my legs burning I decided not to suffer. After all, while I have a body, I am not my body. For example, my 10 year old body is long gone, yet I am still here – now with this body. So I observed my pain without being consumed by it. I decided not to suffer, but to just be aware.
Was it easy? I had to work at it over the 7 1/2 hours, and I am still trying to master this, but I made great progress. Rather than to automatically interpret pain as suffering, I got rid of much of the suffering.
Pain will come. Suffering is a choice.
Good morning Larry. Have a wonderful day! Congratulations to your son, what an amazing accomplishment.
Congratulations to both of you!!!
Congratulations to both of you!!!
Not all of us have the choice to not suffer. I never gave a grimance growing up with a physical disability and working dam gard to succeed.
The older I get and the little things that I used to do are quickly diminishing due to over use or all the physical therapy as a child.
For some of us pain is real despite how hard we set our minds on not letting it get us. It wakes us up and makes even our special days difficult to get through !!!
GREAT JOB TANNER… KEEP IT UP. AWSOME!
Ted and Helen, Roger and Leslie- and all of us here are so proud of you and Tanner!
Congratulations to you both!
Awesome job Taner,
Just finishing is an accomplishment.
Finishing first is another thing altogether
Good morning, Larry. Congratulations to your son! As a parent myself I share the joy in your heart for his accomplishment.
Great advice about pain management I’ll use it in my long runs. Congratulations to Tanner!
Way to go Tanner! Congrats!
Great Job Tanner!!!!!