People have certain aspects of life that over time become “the norm”. As kids, we go to school, play with friends, ride bikes, and just have fun. As adults, we go to work, manage our homes, help our kids with schoolwork and hopefully find time and energy to have a little fun too.

Chronic pain and sickness has the ability to take away those norms. It can feel like we have lost our lives. I hear it all the time – “I just want to live again”.

Life is harder, different, and not as fun. But maybe that’s because we look at what we don’t have instead of what we do have.

If I focus on what I’ve lost, I see that I can’t work, I can’t kayak or hike, I can’t play guitar or sing, I can’t remember normal day to day things, I can’t spend a lot of time playing games with my kids, I can’t babysit my grandkids, I can’t shop for very long, I oftentimes can’t get out of bed. The list is long and if I spend any time dwelling on what I can’t do, I get sad and discouraged.

But here’s the thing – that list hasn’t been my normal for a long time. So why am I still dwelling on it when my now norm has so much beauty and love.

I have a husband who adores me and is a good, kind, respectable man. I have children who have grown into amazing people and who enjoy spending time with me, who are so much fun to be around. I have grand babies who smile when they see me – and make me smile in return. I have a home that looks out over nature and wildlife, reminding me every day that God designs such splendor for our pleasure.

Yes, the days can be hard. But life is full of goodness and beauty and joy. Seek out those things. Dwell on those things. Love and appreciate yourself for who you are right now – not who you were 2, 5, 10 years ago.

Seek the good in life as it exists now.

You’re worth it.