I treat every emotion as valid - even the painful ones. I don't try to just put them behind me or avoid feeling them, but rather I tackle them head-on. I try to understand what's going on beneath the surface, to come to terms with those feelings of hurt, loss, fear and doubt. I try to figure out what's causing each emotion and what I can do about it. Often, just validating the existence of that emotion is all that's needed to quell the churning, but sometimes I have to take a moment to grieve...giving that kid in me heartfelt support with something such as "I'm so sorry, Jim, that you've been so sick for so long..."
Like anyone, I don't want to be sick! It's frustrating to have so much enthusiasm for life, but to have such limited energy. BUT I'm not going to let adversity rob me of my joy! I'm not going to require that I have the life I ultimately want before I'm happy! Yes, finding someone to share my life with is still very important, but I'm not putting my joy on hold until that happens! I'm determined to find a doctor or a treatment or some kind of way to restore my health - but in the meantime I'm still going to be "Mr. Giddy" every chance I get!
And despite the messages from the world that infer that my situation is sad, or tragic or a wasted life, I beg to differ. I know in my heart that God hears every one of my prayers. That everything I'm going through is part of His plan. That this often-lonely storm is not about the world discarding me, but rather Him choosing me to carry out a mission that only I can do...
My prayer is that this post might help others who are struggling with similar adversity to better cope with their painful emotions and find someway to believe that this life still has meaning. That there truly is a purpose for the pain...That despite how it looks, that this isn't a wasted life. And most of all, I hope that no matter what you face each day, that you too can always find a little joy to call your own... :)