I have discovered that pain has some interesting side effects.

It distracts you from your life. Whether physical pain or heartache, when you are feeling pain it seems to take center stage. Everyday concerns move to the backseat OR sometimes everyday concerns seem to take on a new look. It is almost as though you are looking at the things needing to be done in your life through a carnival's funhouse mirror. They look wobbly and out of proportion.

Pain also manipulates time. It slows it down and speeds it up. I had to take some pain medicine this past week due to zigging instead of sagging when I was in the shower and hurting my back. About one hour after taking a pill the world started to move in slow motion. Everything looked fuzzy and my words slurred. After another hour passed I was best described as semi awake then zonked. This is when the magic of pain caused time to speed up. When I would awake groggy and evaluating the status of my discomfort, I would discover hours and hours had passed or even a whole day!

Pain also can make you numb to real life. If you get so caught up in the "feeling" of it, whether emotional or physical, you can miss what is happening around you. This type of pain is dangerous. It occurs after the physical pain has subsided it is when the "pain" becomes an excuse for sitting on the sidelines of life and not participating.

It has long been noticed that I have a low tolerance for drugs and a high tolerance for pain - a wonderful combination. This past week has almost been a laughable series of circumstances. I had some dental work done last Wednesday and on Friday I was feeling so much better. I decided to celebrate and take a shower and wash my hair. Ooops! I definitely moved wrong and hurt my back. Ouch! Fast forward through the weekend and found myself battling my own stubbornness. I was bull headed and didn't want to just lay still and heal. I didn't want to take the pain pills. The pain won and I was still, quiet and often asleep or groggy most of the Easter weekend.

Brand new week, brand new day and except for a slight twinge, I feel "Marvelous." (I think Billy Crystal used to say "Marvelous" in a cool way.) No need to take anymore pain pills or lay still on the couch. I have a beautiful, sunshiny day outside waiting for me. I am blessed to recover so quickly and although a bit groggy I am ready to move forward.

If you are suffering from pain, I wish you a speedy recovery. Remember that pain has a side effects. I wish you a belated Happy Easter and wonderful Patriot's Day.