"I wrote a poem that was inspired by a man who was struggling with his pain in my monthly men's group. It's called 'A Man Stirs':
A man stirs in his bed.
Are the sheets too silky or soft?
Or are they too cold?
His wife says, 'It's all in his head.'
I think it is something twitching in his soul.
How will he know?
It is the pain that opens the door.
It is the pain that will make him listen to the voice
within — he doesn't want to hear.
It is the pain that will make him see the reality —
he has dared not consider.
It is the pain that will make him experience the
feelings — he has been reluctant to face.
It is the pain that will help him find the words —
he has dared not voice.
It is the pain that will open the door to his life,
but it is only he who can walk through it.
"In recovery, we learn that pain can be an ally rather than an enemy. Pain offers important information, if we hold still long enough to listen to it. Our pain can help us learn about our needs — what our working points are — and give us insight into our wounds and personal shortcomings. All grist for the recovery mill."
