The culture I grew up in gave me a terrible burden: It taught me that "absence of pain" is a sign that all's well, 'normal' conditions are prevailing, I'm doing it right, and that I belong to a community, a world where "absence of pain" is the way things are supposed to be.
"Absence of pain" became my touchstone for making decisions and evaluating options.
"Absence of pain" became my touchstone for making decisions and evaluating options.