I think of pain as a great leveler, as well as a possible gateway into the sublime.  It can bring us together, it can wipe away ignorance and propagate wisdom, it can catalyze for amazing art (pain touches everyone, and in its universal reach, gives rise to truth).  I think of it as a caustic gift when it’s thrust upon me, but still—I try not to seek it.

Because I think there are easier ways to tap the sublime.  If I’m in pain, it’s usually because I’ve let smaller mistakes compound into a giant interest payment.


Comments

15 responses to “Musings”

  1. But they’re only ‘mistakes’ after the fact of pain appearing?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Usually the pain makes it increasingly clear that they’re mistakes.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I’d go for the interest-free loan approach myself. That way you can pay until your youth disappears, knowing that your value has not increased whatsoever, but you’ve kept the bank manager dogs from scratching at your door!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha! Nice extension of the metaphor!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Funny photo of your Cave Man. I like him!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Pain is also motivation to be more strategic about how you apply yourself and avoid that pain

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Pain is our ally. It tells us when something is wrong. The key is to not get sucked into it, of course.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Katharine Jones Avatar
    Katharine Jones

    Yes. A friend of mine once said that pain is one way to learn, and a good way (one doesn’t forget it), but there are other easier, kinder ways.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. What’s weird is some people don’t learn. They just keep plowing on and taking on more and more pain.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Pain…yep I struggle with it in the sense that, it seems I am always seeking it even though I don’t mean to. In a way it reminds us we are alive, or in my case certain types of pain dull the pain I experience every day in various forms.

    Anyway.

    I liked this one a lot

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think we all do to some extent, as we all have scars that unconsciously draw us back to the source of our suffering. Thanks for the kind words! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment