Functioning through choas and mass distractions is a skill very useful in the most hostile and challenging environments where a mistake, an error or mishap of any kind would result in dire consequences for not only yourself or the task at hand but also others around you.

I’ve used my “Listening to Understand” branded internal motto if you will for over 3 decades but it came from a place of pain.

Since I was 4 I’ve endured an endless migraine and let me be clear on it being migraines and headaches. When I was not adapted to the pain in my youth the throbbing on both sides of my head, the sensitivity to light, the hightened senses to noises and conversations seemingly rooms away and trouble being able to talk or even concentrate was unbearable.

It became very apparent to me early on after all the medication and an MRI to rule out any other conditions that this was something I’d have to essentially live with if I wanted to well live.

The solution came to me in Year 4(Grade 4) I would need to be fast, I’d just have to outrun the pain to get anything done. Learn everything as quickly as possible. Complete my work before anyone even asks, heck look ahead if I need to since my downtime could hinder any progress if I was to function at the pace of others.

Meditation over medication helped as I got older and I learned to compartmentalise the pain when around others. They wouldn’t know about the part of me in constant pain, or that concentrating 24/7 to not collapse and crumble was hidden behind this stoic stance or how could I help anyone, how would I be able to understand their pain if I went on about my own.

I wouldn’t be able to help anyone if I was worried about my own pain.

Yes I have a very high pain tolerance because that’s my secret.

I’m always in pain.

Regards,

Alexander/Zenchi