Day 2343: Growing pains

Sometimes, when I’m trying to make sense of what’s happening with my country, I attribute it to growing pains.

Here’s a definition of growing pains:

grow·ing pains
/ˈɡrōiNG ˌpānz/
noun
neuralgic pains which occur in the limbs of some young children.
the difficulties experienced in the early stages of an enterprise.
“the growing pains of a young republic”

Earlier this week, Vivian (who continues to grow since co-facilitating Coping and Healing groups with me over a year ago), sent me this in a text message:

Vivian (who is never a pain) also sent me this:

Obviously, Frances Cannon has undergone some growing pains and we can all benefit from those.

Yesterday, after a day filled with some painful growth, I left a voicemail message for a lovely co-worker — who is experiencing some growing pains at work — suggesting that she take a break from her pain and anxiety about potentially doing the wrong thing, by welcoming it. While that may seem painfully counter-intuitive, that advice comes from my own experience. In the 1990s, when I was experiencing growing pains and almost debilitating anxiety at my first social work internship, one morning I looked at myself in the mirror and said, “Ann! Today you are going to celebrate making mistakes and enjoy people getting angry at you.” That self-intervention helped me tolerate the growing pains of becoming a social worker, working within a hospital system, and learning to be a group therapist.

Let’s see if there’s any evidence of growing pains in today’s pictures, shall we?

It’s sometimes a pain for me to decide what music to include in these posts, because there are so many choices! This image …

… reminded me of the Pharrell Williams lyrics “Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof” so let’s do this:

Also, in honor of the Who being named world’s loudest rock band in 1976 …

… let’s do this, from an April 1, 1976 Who Concert in Boston (my hometown, where I’ve experienced lots of growing pains).

I’m looking forward to the comments section, below, growing with your comments.

Gratitude always helps with the pain of growing, so thanks to all who helped me create this “growing pains” post and — of course! — to YOU.

18 thoughts on “Day 2343: Growing pains”

June 1, 2019

markbialczak

When I worked for the big daily, I was ushered to a seat for a small-room show by Sammy Hagar that was right in front of the amp stack.
The Red Rocker’s concert was so loud that I began my review for the next morning’s newspaper IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, ANN.
That remains the most volume I’ve encountered at a rock show.

June 2, 2019

Ann Koplow

THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT COMMENT, MARK! Our friendship just keeps growing.

June 1, 2019

Sitting on my own Sofa

I am inspired by your suggestion. Thank you!

My train is slowly wending its way through the mountains, mostly without phone connectivity, so I feel lucky to have been able to read your post today. Have a good day, Ann.

June 2, 2019

Ann Koplow

I feel lucky to have you as my reader, Maureen.

June 1, 2019

Christopher

I always thought Spinal Tap was the world’s loudest rock band, but, as someone who’s aspired to pinball wizardry, and who’s sometimes worried that no one knows what he’s like behind blue eyes, I’m glad to be wrong.
It can be refreshing sometimes to drop the persona.