Integrating Pain

As I have talked with different people about pain and how it effects them, I have come to realize how important it is to integrate it into our memories and life experiences.  For me, this blog has been a way of doing this.  As I have reflected on my labor expereinces, I have begun to make the pain I felt a part of who I am.  

This didn't really happen while I was in labor.   The pain of labor didn't hold much meaning for me until I reflected back on it afterwards and asked myself why I even choose to give birth the way I did.  It was while I was doing this that the memory of the pain became sweet and filled with joy rather than fear.  

For me I have done this with my writing, but I have seen it used very successfully with art.  I really feel like this would be useful for those who have especially tramatic experiences or memories filled with fear.  Somehow, using words and art to understand the pain I felt allows me to not only find meaning in it, but accept it as a part of me.  In all honosty, pain is not what I fear most in pregnancy...not that I don't have fears, but the pain was become sweet to me somehow....