Yesterday I had to have a root canal. I have officially decided that having a root canal is not one of my favorite things to do.
However, I'm laying there in the chair and the dentist keeps going on and on about what a good patient I am (I guess because I didn't scream or cry through the whole process :) ) and I couldn't help but think that there are SO many worse things than a root canal. People all over the world experience things way more painful and way more serious than dental work everyday. So why get worked up about it?
It reminded me of a time when I was in marching band. I was a freshman and I was a part of the pit (this was before I realized that if your going to be in marching band, you might as well march). So I played instruments like the marimba and xylophone, blah blah blah. We were in all the practices with the drumline (that was cool). One day, at band camp, we were outside practicing and our instructor got stung on the toe by a bee. At the same time, he tried to swat the bee with a drum stick and hit himself in the toe. Double Ow. But he just kept on teaching like it didn't even hurt while we just stared at him, and he told us something that I have always remembered. He said "The pain we feel is up to us. We can give in, or we can realize that its not that bad and just get over it." He was right. Ever since then, every time I am hurt by something I always think about that. Its going to be over soon. And guess what? It doesn't even hurt that bad.
I've had a couple root canals...Not fun.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the whole procedure wasn't bad at all... it was the pain that followed that made me want to punch myself. haha.
ReplyDeleteThe pain we feel is up to us. We can give in, or we can realize that its not that bad and just get over it."
ReplyDeleteI really, really love this. It's something I've been trying to tell myself lately if I'm in pain. Physical pain, that is. While you cantalk yourself out of emotional pain or heartbreak, I think it's a lot harder than if it's something physical. Which seems counter-intuitive, maybe, but I find it true for me at least.
Yeah, I think its the opposite for me. I think the reason I can handle physical pain is because I have experienced things like heartache, and it took longer for that pain to go away, whereas I have taught myself to just ignore physical pain. I don't know. Pain is weird. Have you ever read "The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis? Its really great, gives a lot of insight into pain and why we experience it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that's the opposite? I find it easier to handle physical pain than emotional pain too. And no, I haven't read the book.
ReplyDeleteOooookay, I gotcha now :)
ReplyDeleteIf you ever feel the need to read an extremely thought-provoking, brain-stimulating, "i'll-be-thinking-on-this-for-a-while" kind of book, The Problem of Pain is a good choice!