Pain.Purpose.Prayer.

Hello, friends:

Wow, looking back I cannot believe it has been close to a year since I have last posted to this blog. How have you been? Time continues to move forward, are you?

Pain.Purpose.Prayer. has become my new mantra (and book title if I ever write one)! Some of you know that I (unwillingly) became a chronic pain sufferer 4 years ago after waking up with a migraine from sinus surgery in August 2013. I live everyday with a headache. The lowest my pain has been on the pain scale is a 4 and the highest it has been is a 15. The pain fluctuates everyday. Living with chronic pain has been an awakening into a new world, and provides an elevated level of empathy with others and irritability toward myself. 

I share this information with you in the spirit of transparency and keeping true to my belief of "Scars Are Stories, Share Yours!" Take 5 minutes to watch my "Ignite Lincoln 6" video (you can find it on my website) to get an idea of what I am talking about. I am learning more about invisible scars, I reference the emotional scars in the Ignite video, but I left out the population that I now am apart of which is those living with chronic pain & illness. Again, to look at me you wouldn't necessarily know this about me. Sure, my eyes are puffy and swollen on most days, and I have dark circles around my eyes from the constant pain so that is a change that may cause you to question my health.

To bring an awareness to one persons story of living with chronic pain, I have decided to tell my story through pictures on Instagram. I had an aha moment as I am blessed to be on sabbatical this academic year, and my research gave me the idea. My research title is "Loss and Grief in the Student-Athlete." The research methodology I am using is called PhotoVoice, which asks the research participants to document all types of loss in their sport and academics through photos. For example, a photo in a walking boot after an injury, a picture of the bench if you're riding the pine versus playing on the court, a photo of your family if you're missing them while you're at college during break for games or practice, take a picture of the "C+" you earned on that mid-term instead of the "A" because you were injured, traveling, too tired, etc. I am excited to find out how faculty, staff, and administration can support the dual role student-athletes assume on college campuses.

So, I will begin chronicling both the joys and sorrows of my journey in hopes of sparking dialogue and living my purpose.

Pain.Purpose.Prayer.
I tolerate the pain, by living my purpose, and surviving with prayer.

My wish for you is that you find your purpose, and once you do...live it, and let others benefit from it!

Godspeed,
Lisa

P.S. I hope to hear from you on Instagram!