Brunch at Brigs

Yesterday, I met Wendy at Brigs Restaurant in Cary, NC, for brunch. Yum! We both had huge omelets, fresh fruit and an English Muffin (I really like English Muffins ... why don't I buy them to eat at home?).

Wendy is a ‘person with pain’ friend from my chronic pain support group. In real life, we probably wouldn’t have found each other and been friends. She likes to DO BMX; I like to WATCH NASCAR. She has two teenage girls; I am much older with no children at home. She has a big personality and loves to go do things with friends; I am more comfortable home alone in my cave. But, we have become good friends because we look beyond the differences and see the common ground (pain and the fight to get effective pain care) and how we can help and support each other through our good and bad days.

Wendy knows that I’m not much of a phone person (I prefer email), but she likes me anyway. Before I meet up with her, I’m always worrying … what will we talk about, why am I doing this … Then we meet and we are non-stop talking, sharing, laughing, learning.

I’m always amazed at how different people handle their pain. I choose to limit my activities to one a day. Going to brunch was my activity for the day and then I went home to rest. For Wendy, if she can get the energy and motivation to move at all, she keeps going till she can’t. Then she’ll climb in bed for a couple days if she needs to.

Whatever works. What works for you? How do you manage your life with pain?