None of us like pain. As a result, we take all kinds of over the counter pain relievers to alleviate the pain so that sometimes we don’t have to deal with the real issues that are causing our headeaches and sleepless nights, we can just take a Tylenol PM instead. But pain is a powerful teacher, and will often direct our steps in a much more powerful way of being if we would only pay attention.

On Friday, my pain, once again, reminded me of this very valuable truth. I wish I could say my pain was inflicted because of a wild and crazy night of sex and falling off the bed after the grand finale, but it wasn’t nearly so glamorous. I simple bent over the trash can to throw something away, and my back seized up like a nutcracker on a walnut. I couldn’t move, and I leaned on the sink just trying to breath. I had a completely new appreciation for my chiropractor’s voicemail which said, “If this is a chiropractic emergency . . . ” Until then I only laughed trying to even imagine what a chiropractic emergency could be!

My chiropractor was very gracious, and did get me in that morning. I begged him to do something as I had big plans of going away with friends for the weekend to King’s Island, an amusement park in Ohio about 2 hours away. I was going to play, have fun in the sun, ride rollercoasters, listen to bands, and the pain simply had to go. None of this was on my agenda!! Fix me!!!

As much as he kneaded, twisted, poked, and electrified me, the pain wasn’t going anywhere though. It was here to stay like a very unwelcomed visitor, and I had no choice but to stay home.  As I accepted my fate, I sat on the couch trying not the pout, rested as much as I could, and lived vicariously through my friend as he called me to tell me what ride he just got off of.

At the end of the day, I sighed heavily and went to bed. Maybe tomorrow I would feel better, and I could join in on some of the fun - maybe? As is my habit, I put my cell phone next to my bed, and drifted off to sleep.

At 2:30 am, I woke up to my cell phone. I looked at the caller ID, and saw that it was my Mom. Never good news in the middle of the night. My heart raced as I listened to the crisis. Throughout the night and the next day, I supported my Mom in every way that I could. What I didn’t know was that my brother, my only other sibling, was away on vacation, too. If I had gone out of town as I planned, neither of us would’ve been here when my Mom needed us.

As I hugged my Mom on Saturday night, she simply said, “Thank you for being here. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you!” Like a well choreographed dance, my pain guided and directed my steps. My pain kept me right where I needed to be even though I had no idea why. No regrets, no need for anger or bitterness – only gratefulness.

Sometimes, like in this case, we understand why we need to go through some things. Other times, we only wonder what is going on, why me?, we don’t understand. But I am a true believer that our pain in sending us a huge message, screaming to get our attention, if we would only listen and be willing to learn.

So, what is your pain trying to tell you?

• It is time to listen to your body and get to the doctor.
• It is time to make a change.
• It is time to make a decision to stay or go.
• It is time to have that difficult conversation.
• It is time to get the help you need.
• It is time to trust that everything around you is working together to empower you to be Remarkably You!

We don’t like pain. Yet, sometimes pain is the only thing powerful enough to get our attention and move us in the “right” direction. Accept your pain and stop trying to ignore it. Listen to the message and the powerful voice within you. Trust that your pain really does have your best interest at heart!!  What is your pain telling you right now?