A truly great tragedy.

You know what I was thinking yesterday?

I was walking into Walmart and being conscious of my limp-y ways I began to run the same sad reel about how much of a nuisance it is to have arthritis.  But then I was struck by a greater thought.

As long as whatever you have that pains you is something that someone else has or could have, you can immediately be useful to them.  I was reminded of this thought when I was talking to my dad this morning.  He went through severe anxiety last year and there's no denying the power in words of empathy.  To be able to say to someone, "I've been there.  I understand." is huge!

To be able to say "This is how I cope with ________." are sweet, sweet words to someone who is struggling with the same thing.  So, remember this, whatever you have that aggravates, saddens, or physically causes you pain-there is someone else out there who feels the same thing.  And you share a special bond.

It doesn't mean that you have to be pen pals or wear matching homemade bracelets (although.. why not?), but it does mean that for all of the different "things" that you're going through, someone else is stuck in the same tunnel as you.  And you can support each other!  Tunnels are dark!  It's better together.  Two people walking on the sidewalk in the middle of the day might not have much to say to each other.  But two people walking in a dark tunnel-where it's hard to see in front of you and sometimes you slip, and feel like you should give up-those two people will rely on one another and their chances of survival are ultimately better.

Just as we appreciate the hand that lifts us, we must be that hand in others' lives.

How this plays into my arthritic joints, I'm not too sure yet.  But if there was no Arthritis Society, if no one cared to see a cure, to spend millions on research for medication, wouldn't my future seem much bleaker?  So, this isn't really about arthritis in particular (although go and donate, would ya? ha.), but it is about whatever plagues you.  And how you can use that to bless someone else.  Isn't that what we're here for?