Never let the things you cannot do prevent you from doing the things you can.

I had a hard time adjusting to the pain. I let my pain control me and my quality of life suffered along with my physical conditioning.

Chronic pain makes it easy to feel distressed, to give up and become a victim. It fosters anger, frustration, and hopelessness.

When my symptoms first started, all I could think about was how much I hurt and if the suffering would ever end. I became overwhelmed.

As I came to understand the connection between pain and emotional issues, I included mental health care as part of my pain management program to help control my mood and manage stress.

Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected.

I chose not to let my pain define me, and to live a life that gives me purpose and meaning.

I had to ask myself what I wanted the rest of my life to look like. I began to shift my focus from the things I couldn't do, to the things that I could do.

We can all live a life with purpose, strength, and great meaning if we decide that is what we are going to do.