Tomorrow (as long as things go as planned) I am going to start my day with horrible back pain. But instead of complaining about the excruciating pain, I am going to be thankful that I get the opportunity to wake up to the sound of birds outside my window and sunlight shining through. I am going to be thankful for the chance to wake another morning and ignore the pain the best I can. It isn't fair that we have to deal with our conditions/illnesses/set backs but we should all try looking on the bright side

Thank you for these words of encouragement.

Mag, in that case, why plan to start your day with horrible back pain? Wouldn't the bright side plan to start your day without horrible pain (and maybe just regular pain instead?)

You get my drift...

Doc

Pass that attitude to me please. You are wonderful and a good person to remind us all that we should be grateful for the small stuff. Thank you for your post, I will do as you say tomorrow morning! ginnie

Because I know I will be in a lot of pain but the point is to accept the situation and look at other things around me and be grateful.

I hope you realize I was trying to be supportive of your attitude/outlook.

It's been ~10 years for me and I still have trouble with the "acceptance" part, but maybe that's what keeps me going -- not accepting it. Not saying you or anyone else should view it that way; I'm the outlier here.

Not accepting it keeps me looking for ways to wake up with less pain. I keep changing the position & way I sleep, bedtimes & wakeup times (duration), routines/regimens, etc. Usually (not always by any stretch), the less pain I go to sleep with, the less I wake with. I've taken to not watching news much anymore (stresses me out), and especially at bedtime (except Bill Maher & Jon Stewart). I try to begin & end the day with laughter -- a cartoon, comedy, Youtube vid... Laughter keeps the endorphins flowing, even those occasions when it hurts to laugh. Getting moving as early as possible helps some; I get up, let Ol' Furface out & feed him (& let him out again -- that's just his routine), get my coffee & breakfast (Oh Boy, supplements! ), sit down & slowly/carefully go through my stretches, and try to get my pain under control enough to shower. I know... TMI. Sorry for the ramble --it's late. Gotta go find a funny before I turn in....

Doc

I take this post back! I am in so much pain I can hardly breathe and I just took my last Motrin. I think I am going to sleep in tomorrow. (Sleeping in for me is 7am, I am up at 5:30 every morning)