This doesn’t have that much to do with manflu. More to do with pain, and how common it is.

But let’s all agree that manflu is the worst.

Ok, good. Now for some learning!!

The classic example of ongoing pain is low back pain.

Given what is in your back, how bad the pain can get and the fact that sometimes it continues for a long time, back pain seems like something we need to avoid as it leads to serious problems.

But guess what, you’re not going to be able to do that.

It’s the most common thing on the planet.

It’s so common that it’s almost like getting a cold.

Most people will experience it in some way most years.

Now this is not saying that you should expect to get hit by a car and break your back. Or you have a high statistical chance of falling down a flight of stairs and not being able to walk for a week.

We’re talking garden variety back pain, where you bend over and it goes “Hey, hang on mate, that’s a bit rough first thing in the morning”

Or when you drive to Sydney, get out of the car and for 30 seconds it feels like you have aged about 30 years on the way down.

All of this stuff is completely normal.

If you want to decrease your risk of it you need to increase your physical capacity – ie exercise more often and harder than you probably think.

But you need to make sure you don’t increase it too quickly.

You need to get between 7 and 9 hours sleep every night.

And you need to be all calm and chilled out man. All the time.

Does this describe you?

It sure as hell doesn’t describe me?

This describes hardly anyone.

Maybe that annoying person you work with that is super fit and chill and doesn’t have young kids and is always so nice that you want to put your foot through their face.

See how hard it is too avoid it?

But that doesn’t mean you need to freak out. It doesn’t mean you are broken. It doesn’t even mean you need to see anyone about it.

Do you always see your doctor for a cold? No. Most of the time you just cool your jets for a bit, feel better and get on with it. Most of the time you still go to work and do all the other things you need to do, you just maybe aren’t as chirpy as normal.

Maybe it’s a day, may be it’s a few days. Maybe, if my wife’s account of things is accurate, you get a cold and then for about a week and a half you are a whining piece of garbage. Whatever, shut up, man flu is real.

The point is, as my lovely, intelligent wife points out, you’re not dying.

DISCLAIMER

If you are actually dying, please seek help. If you are having unremitting, severe pain that is keeping you awake, giving you strange symptoms, associated with sickness or trauma then that’s a bit different. Please seek the help of the appropriate health professional.

But if it’s “just” pain, guess what. Pain is normal too.

Pain is a completely normal part of being a human.

Some poor humans are born with a decreased ability to experience pain and unfortunately end up dying prematurely. So pain can suck, but never having any pain sucks harder.

Plus, remember the old saying, what doesn’t kill you make you stronger?

Well, it’s not quite that. I reckon contracting the Spanish Flu wouldn’t make you stronger.

But being able to experience, process and continue through some pain is a skill worth having.

This DOES NOT mean no pain no gain, toughen up princess, she’ll be right, or any other bogus saying of the prevailing attitude in society in which someone’s “toughness” is attributed to their gender, sexuality, muscle bulk, mental fortitude or some other bullshit.

This is just trying to change the narrative.

You are strong, robust, adaptable and resilient.

Pain is a normal, protective reaction to your nervous system’s perception of danger.

It is always overprotective.

You will experience pain, that doesn’t mean it is something to be concerned about.

You are more than capable, in many situations, of dealing with it and continuing with the things you love.

You are the Weapon.

Until next time

Dave