The last two weeks have been teaching me a lesson I’ve resisted for most of my life: acceptance can sometimes get you further—and faster—than force. I’m not a naturally patient person. When something slows me down, my instinct is to push harder, fix it quickly, or work around it. But this time? My body had other plans.
The Back Pain I Tried to Outrun
About a month ago, I felt a small pinch in my lower back. Nothing dramatic. I figured I’d tweak my workouts, try some gentle swimming, loosen things up with dance, and it would resolve on its own.
I was wrong. 🙁
Two weeks ago, right before Thanksgiving, I swam, relaxed in the hot tub and steam room, felt amazing… until I got dressed. One part of my body stood up, the other part didn’t get the memo, and I felt a sharp spasm shoot across my back.
The following week, it felt like my right butt cheek was falling off. I was walking like an old lady—gingerly lowering myself into chairs, bracing to get out of cars, shifting slowly out of bed. I could even see my body leaning to the right, trying to guard itself from pain.
My reaction? Fix it. Now.
So I drove 30 minutes each way to the chiropractor. The drive itself reset the misalignment. I tried
- ibuprofen.
- Ice.
- Stretching.
- ChatGPT advice, more ChatGPT advice.
- A new orthopedic doctor.
- An X-ray.
- Muscle relaxants because I couldn’t sleep.
I pushed and pushed and pushed… and my body refused to cooperate.
The Turning Point: Acceptance
About a week and a half in, something shifted—but not in my back. In my mind.
I finally realized: This is here. It may be here for another week, two weeks, maybe longer. I don’t get to control the timeline.
And something beautiful happened when I stopped resisting: The pain didn’t disappear, but the suffering eased.
I stopped waking up disappointed that I wasn’t better yet.
I stopped obsessing over every sensation.
I stopped spiraling with “What if I can’t travel? What if the cruise is miserable?”
I started being present with what was—the pain, the limitations, the slowness.
I accepted that:
- I can’t work out right now.
- I can’t walk long distances or handle hills.
- I need to stand up often.
- I have to heal on my body’s schedule, not mine.
And strangely, once I accepted that… I felt calmer. My body felt less clenched. My mind softened. The healing actually began.
Gratitude in the Middle of Discomfort
This is also the season of gratitude, and this experience reminded me how blessed I am
when my body is working well.
When I’m not injured, I get to do so many things I take for granted. The contrast has made me genuinely more appreciative. Aging is real. Healing takes longer now. I can’t throw myself into five new routines in one week and expect my body to respond like it did in my twenties. Accepting these realities is not defeat—it’s wisdom.
Traveling With Reality, Not Against It
I leave for a cruise in two days with my parents and my husband. I was so stressed about the flight, the walking, the discomfort… and the stress itself made everything worse.
Now? I’m approaching it differently.
I upgraded my seat.
I packed medicine and Salonpas.
I’m focusing on the blessing: warm weather, sunshine, great food, and time with people I love.
And if I’m moving slowly? So what.
I can still enjoy the trip.
I don’t need the perfect body to have a beautiful time.
Acceptance: The Universal Shortcut to Healing
Back spasms may not be your struggle.
Your version might be:
- an unexpected layoff
- a breakup
- a promotion you didn’t get
- a conflict with someone you love
- a dream temporarily falling apart
These are the moments we want to escape immediately. But here’s the truth I’m learning the hard way:
The fastest way out is often through.
Acceptance doesn’t mean liking the situation.
It doesn’t mean giving up.
It means acknowledging, “This is here right now,” without spiraling into resistance.
When we stop fighting reality:
- our stress drops
- clarity rises
- compassion grows
- our body stops tensing
- our next steps become clearer
- we heal faster—emotionally or physically
Everything unwanted is temporary. Jobs change. Opportunities return. Relationships strengthen or shift. Bodies recover. Pain ebbs. Life keeps unfolding with new gifts and new beginnings.
Acceptance doesn’t take away the challenge. It restores your power inside the challenge. And often, that’s all we need to keep moving forward—gratefully, slowly, and with a little more wisdom than before.
Best wishes, and may you accept what is… so you can grow into what’s next.
Lei
[…] month—especially through the holidays—was unexpectedly difficult for me. After recovering from a back injury around Thanksgiving, my husband and I went through a rough patch. What followed was a series of small fights that […]