So it’s my birthday this week. But I’m going through a pretty nasty pain flare-up. I usually get my worst at the end of summer.
My normal pain is in my head, neck and back (nearly always, it’s the neck that’s worst). During these flare-ups, everywhere hurts, because my blood cells get inflamed. And there’s blood vessels all over your body, so everywhere hurts.
This has caused difficulties being taken seriously. Just picture it:
“Where does it hurt?”
In dramatic voice – “Everywhere!”
The trouble with these pain crises is they last anywhere from three days to a few weeks. And injuries and infections can make them last longer and get worse, because of the inflammation they cause.
It’s hard to do much but lie in bed, watch crap TV and while the painful time away.
Which, much as I like to keep a cheerful face on things, kinda sucks on your birthday.
Hence the question. How do you enjoy your birthday while also periodically wincing from pain?
It’s actually not impossible.
1. Find something funny to laugh at
My mum and I have been tackling a certain problem for the last few weeks.
It all started when she asked me, “Hey, I’m really sorry about this, but I can’t remember the birthday present you asked for, but I remember us both agreeing that was a fantastic present. Do you remember what it was? I want to see if I already got it and stored it somewhere.”
I wracked my brains.
“God yeah, I remember thinking this is a great present, and you being relieved you wouldn’t have to struggle to work out what I’d like.”
“Yeah, so what is it?”
“No clue.”
“What, none?”
“It is a total mystery to me. Good luck finding the mystery present!”
Now, the situation is getting rather critical. We still don’t have a damn clue what it is. And it’s my birthday on Saturday.
The other way to amuse myself: keep saying to my parents about how now I’m going to be 26, I’m so, so old. Watch them laugh and get gradually more offended each time I make the joke.
And all these jokes are backed up by science: studies like this one have found that being able to see the funny side to life helps you cope better with pain.
2. Reflect on how much the 20th century has shaped my personality
I was born on 6th September 1999. Those first few months of life were absolutely crucial in my character development.
3. Be proud of my achievements this year
I started this blog and have kept it up!
I started another blog when I was about 12 about my tween life. I intended it to be a private journal type thing, but a few posts in, I realised I’d gotten a few subscribers. Most were middle-aged men.
Creeped out and squirming at the thought of my tween crushes and indignations revealed to the world, I ended the blog.
This one has turned out better.
Keeping a blog definitely teaches you commitment and consistency. I vary how often I post due to my health. But I’m thinking about my next post every day. Sometimes it’s done in one sitting, sometimes it’s word by word.
The post I’m most proud of is the one I did to celebrate hearing aid day. My family’s story about the miraculous transformation hearing aids gave me as a baby. Click here to check it out if you haven’t yet.
I’ve been doing a copywriting course to level up my skills so I can deliver good quality work for my clients.
Since images massively boost your content’s click-through-rate (CTR) by as much as 40%, I’ve been practising photography. I don’t want to give you rusty pics that make you think “why did you show this to me, Naomi?”
That was the quality of many of the pictures I took on one holiday where my mum gave me the camera to shut me up. I took about 600 photos until it stopped working and I gave it to my mum to fix. I’d maxed it out while on the train to the destination. Bad idea, mum.
The benefit of learning photography (beyond the creative expression) is that you don’t have to worry about if you’re allowed to use that image you found on Google search. If it’s yours, it’s yours to share.
Wow. As rough health-wise as this year has been, I’ve actually done a lot. It’s something good to feel about myself, even when the pain is dragging my mood down.
4. Pizza and ice cream
Come on. Do I need to explain why this makes me feel good on my birthday?
Birthdays are fun no matter the pain
When I was a kid, they were fun for all the gifts. Yeah, I was pretty selfish as a kid I have to say. Now I’m (almost) the ancient age of 26, what I love about them is spending time with family.
If you enjoyed this post, please share, like and subscribe. Do you have any guesses as to what the mystery gift could be? Let me know in the comments. Joke answers preferred, but I’m desperately trying to figure it out!
And if you haven’t read the hearing aid day post yet, click here to find out why it should be an international holiday.
Naomi the Wordsmith 
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