Lessons of Pain

The Lessons of Pain:  Happy November readers. I realise I have been quieter this past year than most. You may have noticed? But now I find myself with an unlimited amount of time on my hands, which I will explain a bit better later on in the blog. I find it’s usually best to start at the beginning so we are going to jump back to the end of last year.

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My journey of pain started back in October 2023 when my grandfather died suddenly. Now you may say well it can’t be that much of a shock as he was 86 and he wasn’t in the best health and to some extent you would be right. However I had just returned home from a lovely holiday and I was rushing around trying to get my daughter ready when I received the phone call. I sped round to my grandad’s and there he was. After dealing with the ambulance and the police I then had to wait for what felt like an eternity for the funeral home to come and take him.

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It was a funny feeling almost a sort of numbness. It was afterwards when I returned home to my family and my daughter asked when are we going to see grandad. You see I was rushing around getting her ready to go and see him so she could tell him all about our holiday. Then I realised if the neighbour hadn’t gone in to check on him it would have been my 4 year old that would have found him as she always used to run from the car, up the drive and straight in the back door shouting ” helloooo, it’s meeee”.

Lessons of Pain.

My heart sank and a new kind of pain washed over me. I then had to explain to her that she wouldn’t see grandad anymore as he had gone back home to be with Jesus. For several weeks afterwards she would ask about him and when we were going to see him again each time it was like a dagger in my heart. Then the day came when she stopped asking about him and now a year on she barely remembers him and that pain I think is worse.

Now we spring forward to April. I feel like I am finally coming to terms with my new routine living without grandad. After enjoying a lovely family day out at Chester Zoo on the drive home I begin to feel unwell. The next day I end up in A&E a few doctors and X-rays later we learn I have pneumonia. So I’m sent home for bed rest with a bag load of antibiotics. My emotional pain had manifest into physical pain.

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Here we have several problems. Those of you who know me will know I don’t like mainstream medicine so that was an issue for me.  I spent my days researching different homeopathic remedies I could take, different tinctures I could drink and used food to help me heal. Then we have the bed rest, this has to be the worst thing ever! I may be many things but patient is not one of them I’m sorry to say. Everything needs to be done yesterday. I have zero patience for being unwell it is a total inconvenience. However pneumonia is no joke guys. I have to admit it took me down hard and there were more than a few scary moments. But a few months past and I was on the mend.

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Then emotional stress hit once more. Having to clear out grandad’s house, divide up his belongings and sell his house. A house that had been part of my life since I was born. There were so many memories. We now jump to exactly 1 year after my grandfather’s death and out of nowhere my back goes. You are probably reading this in disbelief as you really couldn’t write it. Anyway 3 A&E visits, 4 doctor appointments and 1 MRI later I find out I have slipped a disc in my back. Once again my emotional pain has manifest into physical pain. And yet again I am told to rest.

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So, I feel I need to ask myself what lessons am I not learning for this to keep happening?  Well one in particular jumps out at me, Patience. But that can’t be the only thing? If you look back there seems to be other patterns and the one that stick out like a sore thumb to me at least is that if you don’t deal with your emotional pain it will eventually manifest into a physical one. There are many lessons pain can teach us and boy have I learnt some harsh lessons this year. But from pain we grow be it emotionally, physically or spiritually.

Lessons of Pain.

REST. This year I can honestly say I have had enough of hearing this word (along with the phrase just take it easy). But as frustrating as it may be, I cannot stress enough how important rest is. I think there is a certain expectation on us all that we have to “get stuck in” “keep plodding on” or “keep going” when what we really need to do is stop and take a time out to rest and recover. We are often so focused on what we need to do next that we forget that we need to look after ourselves as well. As the saying goes “you can’t pour from an empty cup”.

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Along with these lessons I have also learnt that I need to stop wishing my life away. I admit that this past year I have found myself far too often saying things like “next year will be better”, “roll on 8 weeks from now”, “I can’t wait for this year to be over” any of these sound familiar? Well I have come to the realisation that yes life isn’t always peachy but there are always good things during the darker times if you look for them. After all, we have to remember life, getting older is a gift that not everyone has the luxury of. So I believe it is our duty to make every day count.

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My hope for you this November is that even in difficult times you find the courage to make every day one to remember ❤️

Peace, Love & Harmony

Reiki Rach x

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If any of those reading this are suffering with physical pain or grief come and speak to us on our next healing day or have some treatment from the team.  If there are any who’s stress and emotions are debilitating come and have some healing, learn how to reduce emotional stress.  Our next Day of Healing will be on Saturday the 1st of November 10am-1.30pm at Crosby library.  All treatments, help and healing is given free of charge.  Pop in for a cuppa and a piece of cake and see what we are about.

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We do accept donations if offered to help cover the cost of the room  but if you do not have a donation do not let that stop you coming.  We are here to help all and any who may need help in one shape or form.  If those reading this article have had similar experiences I will be writing the next part of the story very soon.

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