This morning, a friend and I were talking and I mentioned that I wasn’t feeling well and had needed to drive my husband’s car instead of mine. He hurt his back and couldn’t get in and out (it rides pretty low). Well, with my chronic pain, I also find his car difficult, so I was pretty sore. Anyway, this friend didn’t previously know of my issues. Instead of saying something unhelpful, she just asked me what sorts of things I liked to do to help with the pain. It made me almost cry–not because I was upset but because instead of saying I’m too young or don’t look sick or whatever, she was interested in swapping stories. I just felt like she heard and understood instead of judging. And when I said I don’t tell most people, she understood that, too. It felt good.