Ants at my picnic
It just wouldn’t be a picnic without the ants.
Author Unknown
There are so many quotes about adversity. It makes my head spin. It makes my heart woozy.
None of them are particularly comforting. They’re all about how you’re better off for pain. It’s transformative. It’s good for your character.
That’s nice.
It still hurts.
I read through my old posts and how I’ve learned a lot over the years. I’ve learned so much it seems that I should somehow be a happy little quote fairy no matter what.
But I’m not. Pain hurts. Fear haunts. Worry still weighs like an indigestible meal.
Sometimes there is no under, over or around a thing. Sometimes, there’s only through.
Vanessa from One Thousand Single Days posted recently how that’s what makes life rich… and she’s right.
So, I won’t post any character-forming platitudes. It’s time to look pain, fear and worry straight in the eye and say,
“Yeah, you suck, but that’s okay. You’re part of life. You’re what makes life rich.”
Muchness 
🙂 Thank you so much for mentioning my writing! You have hit the nail on the head. I have read so many quotes about pain being good for you and I just want to scream: YES BUT IT STILL SUCKS!!!!
I wrote ‘The heart of life is good’ to try and work out in my own mind that its ok for things to just suck. You don’t have to be brave, you can let it hurt.
As you said though: “Sometimes there is no under, over or around a thing. Sometimes, there’s only through”
Well written.
Your blog really resonated with me. While I’m not committed to go 1000 days solo, you’re on a similar path to finding contentment and joy and a sense of wholeness in yourself.
You have a lot of great insights and I look forward to following your journey from here.