5 Part Series: Part 3 Transforming Pain into Purpose: How Chronic Pain Became a Milestone on My Life’s Journey

It was 2016 when I was diagnosed with chronic pain in my right hand. I didn’t know how long it would continue, I didn’t know how many more doctors I’d have to see before we could find out why the pain wouldn’t stop. I didn’t know I’d later need surgery and then rehab just to reach some type of normalcy. All I knew was that my hand hurt. 10/10. 24/7.

At the time I was going to college, studying full-time for 2 Bachelors’ degrees. Focused on my full class work load. And I went through every question you could imagine thinking “Why is this happening to me?” and “How long will it last?” and “What did I do to deserve this pain?” 

There’s so much more to that story, but ultimately, things got harder before they got better. Once we finally diagnosed why I chronic pain (the main tendon in my hand had ruptured) then I went on to have surgery and rehab and still this entire time going to college and needing to write papers, meet deadlines, and attend class. It was rough. 

But guess what? I still graduated with a 3.8 GPA years later (on time) and with my 2 Bachelor’s degrees. And by the time I graduated I learned-

• The importance of hard work, consistency, and dedication

• How to live life navigating chronic pain and when you don’t have all the answers. 

• And I gained a muscle of thankfulness that would have never existed had I not experienced this season in my life where I needed help from those around me more than ever and I got to experience community

At the time, I thought this was so inconvenient and unfair. This “detour” was one of the hardest times in my life and yet one of the greatest blessings. And yes, I still made it to my “destination”- I graduated from college. But even more valuable- I got there as a much more mature, developed individual who truly learned what grit and determination mean.

So the moral of the story is- detours can help to refine us if we choose to. And it may seem “out of the way” or “inconvenient” but it could be one of the most refining periods of our lives.

And for those who still deal with chronic pain on a daily basis, my heart goes out to you.

Have you experienced a really difficult time in your life that at the time you thought was inconvenient but ended up being one of the milestones in your journey?

Share below. Can’t wait to hear from you.