I am in pain.

A year ago, I was not in pain.

You are also in pain.

But a year ago, you were in pain.

5 years ago, you were in pain.

10 years ago, you were in pain.

You tell me my pain is insignificant because you hurt more.

That may be true.

But my pain is new.

You have had years to build tolerance and resilience.

What hurts you now is far worse than what hurt you before.

Just as an alcoholic can drink far more than a person who just took their first sip.

Take a moment to think back to when your pain was new.

When you first had to adjust your day-to-day, which you are now accustomed to.

When you first realized what you couldn't do without pain, which you now accept.

When the pain was unbearable, but now would feel like nothing.

Think back to when you had never been in pain before and remember.

That's what I'm going through now.