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When Pain Is Good For You...

Once upon a time, I stood at a fork in my life.  Should I walk down the 'safe' road or should I try the path that looked thorny and rocky?  Shades of Robert Frost....:) 

Safe road meant safe heart, minimal problems and serene life.  No fears, no worries.  Thorny path meant possible hurt and potential flame out. Plenty of angst and lots of 'wasted' energy.  But I thought that if I continued down that safe road, I'd always think of 'what if'.  What if I took that thorny path and never regretted it?  What if things turned out well for me?  Wasn't the potential happiness worth the risk?

And so I took that fateful first step down 'the path less travelled by'.  Did I feel hurt?  Did I 'waste' time and energy in upset and anger?  Yes, yes and yes... but just as I experienced wrenching lows, I also felt over-arching joy.  And I learned something about myself.  When I had felt the bitter of pain and disappointment, I learned to appreciate deeply the happy times I had and the people in my life.  I don't think I would have been so appreciative if I had not had those hurtful times.

Paradox of life.

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alyssandra said…
"And I learned something about myself. When I had felt the bitter of pain and disappointment, I learned to appreciate deeply the happy times I had and the people in my life. I don't think I would have been so appreciative if I had not had those hurtful times."

i totally agree and relate. and happy i went through torture (in whatever form it may be), changes your perspective on life :)
11:37 am
RoslynCT said…
Amen to that!
11:48 am
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