About Anticipating Pain
It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure; and if pleasures are greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of troubles A few months back I had a skin situation and had to get a “severely atypical” mole removed. Though it was on my hands, I was asked to lay on my stomach while the doctor’s assistant numbed the areas with lidocaine. He repeatedly asked me, “Are you okay?” And I repeatedly said, “Just fine!” Since it didn’t really hurt that much, it surprised me when he said, “Wow. You’re strong!” I do believe I’m strong, but I’ve always been squeamish around needles — going back to my childhood finger prick, which I resisted with blood-curdling wails. Still, this time the needle prodding didn’t even faze me. So what was different this time? One thing: I couldn’t see it. And because I couldn’t see it, I responded only to the physical sensation, not the expectation of pain and discomfort. How many difficulties in life would seem more bearable if we didn’t ru