I rarely get headaches. Very rarely. But today I’ve had one all day—in fact my head is still pounding. And in the midst of the discomfort, I keep telling myself that it will be so nice to feel normal again.
The same thing has happened in the past when I’ve gotten sick. I feel miserable, and can’t wait to feel normal again. And I tell myself that once I feel normal again, I will not forget how bad it felt to be sick.
The sickness brings about a new sense of gratefulness for my health. But in time, I tend to forget how good it feels to not be sick. I begin to take my health for granted. That is, until I’m under the weather again.
Going through times of discomfort can help us be grateful for the times when things aren’t so bad. It broadens our perspective, bringing sharper attention to the things we can be thankful for.
The challenge is that over time we can get so used to the good things we enjoy, that we begin to take them for granted. And unfortunately, sometimes a little pain or discomfort is what helps us remember how much we’ve had to be thankful for the whole time.