Professional Afflictions

Many of us carry afflictions that have done much to create and define us. An affliction can be any number of things, extending from the physical malady type that most associate with the word to the very non-physical, reaching into the psychological and experiential. Regardless of its nature, we all have afflictions that have shaped us and taught us.

My affliction is kidney stones and the many problems that go with them.

The problem of my particular kind of kidney stones is a very interesting one. You see, as a morbidly obese child, I was cursed with kidney stones at a very early age, and have continued to enjoy their "contributions" to my life to this day. Much like a first kiss, a first car, or first grade, after many years and many of all of the above, kidney stones included, none of them are as world-shattering as the first. This affliction of mine teaches me a great deal, though, because the nature of these stones is eerily similar to the old "rolling stone gathers no moss" saying. You see, a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet lead to the formation and growth of kidney stones. This rewrites the saying as, "a moving Jonathon gathers no stones."

Ouch.

In any event, every time I pass a kidney stone it is a sharp (very sharp) reminder that some practice of mine needs to change. I love to spend time on the computer and I love to read, two activities that don't stir things up much. Also, I find that my diet has drifted from the extremely healthy one that I enjoyed in lighter and healthier days. Additionally, stress levels have fluctuated up in recent days and months, further degrading the situation. The thing is, none of these issues are anyone's fault but my own, which makes it all too appropriate that each stone would be suffered by me and me alone, and in a place that couldn't possibly get more personal.

I wouldn't trade my affliction, though, regardless of the myriad effects it has had on my entire life. Take a few minutes, turn off the music and the television, maybe on the drive to work, and reflect on your affliction. Whatever it is, it's the first thing that comes to your mind, whether it's your Mother being abusive, your repressive religious upbringing, your inability to balance a checkbook, alcoholism, a birth defect, depression, OCD, your disabled sibling, whatever it is that YOU perceive as your affliction. This is all yours, so enjoy it and ask yourself, after taking stock of your life as it is and the person you are, if you'd trade your affliction for any other one in the world.

And THAT'S what makes it yours.