Pain is an interesting topic. One person’s discomfort is another’s bitter hurt. I have suspected this for a long time as I coached both men and women athletes. We as parents, coaches, and teachers used to discourse about ‘who can and cannot take difficult tasks in a comfortable manner.’ We see, even among our own relatives, friends, and co-workers, those who we think are ‘moaning and groaning’ about this or that and it is real to them but unthinkable for us. Yet, the answer may not be in the treatment of the pain, but the modification of the self-perception. So the ‘stand up for yourself’ and ‘look like you mean it,’ ‘stop gritting your teeth and smile,’ really did have meaning when commanded by a significant adult in our young lives. Maybe growing up is the only ‘real way’ to handle pain.

OUCH!!!! That paper cut hurt!!!

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