Pain is not suffering

Pain is not suffering,
Pain is a message.
It tells you exquisitely
What needs to be done next.

The same with grief or depression.
They serve a valuable purpose:
To let you know something
Needs attention, right now!

A broken arm, a broken heart:
Put it in a cast, or pick up your stuff.
You'll grow stronger than now
But never will you undo the hurt.

Once you know there's a problem,
Once your pain has made you aware,
Pain has become useless - a nuisance
Better ignored than dwelt upon.

Wallowing in grief, thinking "I'm hurt"
Is the cause of suffering - holds
You back from getting on with life
And will even bury you alive.

Fix the problem, ignore the pain,
Deal with the changes injury forces,
And work around it if you cannot
Recover your former abilities.

Never lose sight of the important
Question to always ask yourself:
What needs to be done next?
And get on with it right now.

Remember the past, learn from it;
Anticipate the future, prepare for it;
Act in the present, effectuate it;
But live your whole life, no regrets.

LMC 25 February 2010