Perspective

(Today’s blog post is part of the Blogging From A to Z Challenge during which writers all over the world blog each day in April based on a corresponding letter of the alphabet.  These are my personal stories about living with Trigeminal Neuralgia, the most painful diagnosis known to man.)

Yesterday I talked about overthinking and although it’s often a negative thing, thinking too much can also be helpful.  One of my oft uttered phrases is, “I am always seeking perspective,” and  for me that perspective boils down to five simple words:

Things could always be worse.

Now are there days when I think, “this is the worst”?  Yes.  I have bad days, really bad days and a lot of them, but I still know that there are others who have it worse than I.  I think about the fact that this condition affects children and how awful it must be – and how difficult it must be for their parents.  I am grateful that I live in a metropolitan area where many doctors know about TN even though it’s rare. Although my financial situation does worry me, I know I have it better than many people (at least for now).  And I can be selfish with my time.  I don’t work (at least for now), take care of a family or make it through a day of school.  And I have a supportive family who is always there when I need them.

Honestly, I wouldn’t like it if someone said to me, “You know, Sal, things could always be worse,” because compared to a lot of people, my “things” are worse.  But deep down I know that some day things will be worse, whether that’s due to my TN or something else.  In the meantime, I’m just going to count my blessings.