THE GIFT OF PAIN

Every night I bear the weight of my pain. It arrives like a thief, an unwanted intruder that steals my peace of mind, my hope, my optimism, and leaves this little light of mine flickering till it reunites with the morning. The sun rises and the pain of a restless night gives way to another determined day. The morning light fills me with hope, strengthens my courage, and defeats my fears.

I bend to the reality of my pain but remain unbroken to its will. The beauty in nature, the kindness of strangers, and the power of resilience fuel my resolve.

Those who hide their pain are victimized by the isolation, martyrdom, self-pity and self-loathing it creates.

Pain is not my secret to keep but my strength to share with those whose hearts and minds have not experienced the demons that lurk beyond their experiences.

Every morning, I awake to a familiar pain and a body disconnected from a willing brain. Every day I pray the gift of life itself is enough to sustain me. The gift of life does not include money or material gain. Nor does life’s gifts include the false sense of normality that makes others feel their circumstances make them more fortunate than others.

Pain is not a deep dark secret. Pain is a gift Pain is inspiration in action that exposes strength, hope, and untiring determination. Pain is one of life’s greatest equalizers and can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. Pain replaces the absurdity of normality with empathy, acceptance, and understanding.

Lovester Law is a retired sales, marketing and communications executive skilled in creating emotional connections between brands and consumers. Law holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Dayton. Law's family history includes the burdens of southern slavery, Jim Crow law, perceived mental illness and inferiority. Law was diagnosed with ATTR Amyloidosis in 2012 and soon afterwards received a life-sparing heart transplant. Law is the author of SEARED SOULS, an unpublished memoir. He can be contacted at lrlaw116@gmail.com.