Idea Addicts

Decide to Play Hurt

It is no fun to be hurt. Whether your pain is from a temporary sickness, a tragic life event or a chronic attack on you physically or emotionally, the feeling can be overwhelming. It paralyzes you. It makes you want to escape. You are hoping to wake up from this horrible nightmare.

Have you ever felt crippled by your hurt?

I remember once when I was about 10 years old, sitting on the steps in our house early one morning. I didn’t feel good. Nothing serious, but I was ready to go back to bed.

Dad was dressed, making his coffee, preparing to fly out the door. He came across me with my hands on my head, probably growning in dramatic fashion. I don’t remember all the details, but knowing my Dad, he probably stopped and put his hands on me, rubbing my head or shoulders.

He asked what was wrong. Moaning a little bit, I told him I did not feel like going to school that day. How my dad responded would stay etched into my mind even until today.

With the compassion and real love that only a great father can give, my Dad told me that sometimes he didn’t feel like going to work either, but he still did it. My Dad taught me in that moment to go to work, even when you don’t feel like it, even when it hurts….and that, in life, you have to play hurt.

Now looking back, I know the whole story of my Father. I see how chronic pain and tragic events plagued him and how he daily decided to play hurt.

We do not have to choose to play hurt. However, the people I know who have decided to play through the pain, to do life despite their circumstances…they do not regret it. In the end, despite how they feel, despite their hurt, they become people who make a difference in the world around them. They change lives.

You can decide to play hurt. Will you?

My family and I greatly benefited from my Dad’s decisions again and again to play hurt. Who will benefit from your decision to play hurt?

Hey, I’m Adam Suter. This is my personal blog. I am married to the love of my life, Michelle, and have three wonderful children. We live in Marietta, GA. I run a small nonprofit. Some of the things that fascinate me are faith, new ideas, people, stories, productivity, nonprofits, and my own children.

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