Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.

Original art by Gina Welds Hulse

"I will life my eyes"

Truth be told, I have really struggled over the last few days to find the good in the bad.  It seems that I have only experienced continuous pain on daily basis.  I wake up in pain.  My joints in my fingers hurt so bad.  They lock in place when I close my fist. My knees seem to scrape against bone when I bend and try to get up.  My jaws lock in place.  My spine hurts when I bend or try to straighten up. Pain is everywhere.  

I try not to complain, but lately it has become increasingly hard to maintain a positive outlook.  I know I must so I continue to push on.

So what good could possibly come out of this continuous pain that I feel lately.

Let's see...

I acknowledge the pain.  I know that the fact that I feel pain means that i am still alive, and that is a very good thing.  
When I was diagnosed with lupus 5 years ago (that seems like an eternity ago, although I know some of you have had it for much longer)....anyway...when I was diagnosed with lupus, I too this opportunity to do some research, lots of research.  I was determined that I was going to heal my body.  This has been a continuous journey.  You can read more about that here and here.  The pain that I feel on a daily basis continuous to inspire me to learn more and more about healing my body.  I became a certified herbalist because of the pain that I felt.  Had I not been diagnosed, I would not have been a seeker of knowledge like I am today, even though I consider myself to be a lifelong learner.

So much good can happen in a single day, no matter how bad the day might feel,. The painful days can come with good things inside of them, so don't discount them. The moments in which you feel like giving up can be the moments that bring you much insight into the world, the human condition, and hopefully bring you to arrive at the avenue of hope. 

Some days I don't have the energy to write or to paint, but these remain my inspiration. I know that there is a purpose to my pain and that if I only keep going that someone will benefit from the story that will be told from all the pain that I endure.

Joy will always come in the morning, no matter what my night ends like.