{"id":2012,"date":"2016-04-10T19:40:11","date_gmt":"2016-04-10T19:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=2012"},"modified":"2016-04-10T19:40:11","modified_gmt":"2016-04-10T19:40:11","slug":"chronic-pain-and-illness-hanging-on-to-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2016\/04\/chronic-pain-and-illness-hanging-on-to-what.html","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Pain and Illness: Hanging on to What?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Second<\/a>As the season changes from winter to spring (yes, I know it’s hard to believe when it’s still snowing some places and even here in SoCal, it’s chilly), we inevitably rotate our wardrobe from heavy clothing to lighter wear. And, of course, as we do this, we discover, er, alterations (to put it nicely) in our physical shape or size. Up or down, sometimes chronic illness and pain result in looking very different from how we once did. Some medications invite weight gain or loss, pain can drastically change our exercise routines so that weight is redistributed. Yes, we might find ourselves staring at a pile of clothing that once fit, but now doesn’t. But, still, we might be loathe to get rid of what we see.<\/p>\n

As we contemplate keeping the stack of unwearable clothes, we often think back to when we\u00a0could<\/em> wear them. Perhaps that time was happier, painfree or illness free. Perhaps among the garments are clothes we wore when we could work or play a particular sport. Maybe they are special pieces that we wore when we could socialize more, when the thought of wearing bling had nothing to do with using a walker or bracing our knees.<\/p>\n

We might be holding on to memories, not necessarily clothing that we know we’ll be able to wear again.<\/p>\n

As hard as it is to get past the associations we have with particular pieces of clothing, it’s important to try. There are plenty of people who are less fortunate who could use the garments we hold onto, and there are plenty of options available to us to liven up our wardrobe, even if it is vastly different in size and use than that which we had before.<\/p>\n

Think about this, pray about this as you rotate from cold to warmth, winter to spring. Someone beyond the walls of your closet is in need, and you just might be able to help.<\/p>\n

Talk about a good fit!<\/p>\n

Peace,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the season changes from winter to spring (yes, I know it’s hard to believe when it’s still snowing some places and even here in SoCal, it’s chilly), we inevitably rotate our wardrobe from heavy clothing to lighter wear. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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