It’s easier said than done, but sometimes we have to try to focus on something we love rather than the pain.
Living with constant pain is hard. That’s putting it mildly, isn’t it? Pain creeps into every part of life, often putting a spanner in the works whenever you try to do something enjoyable. Yet sometimes, despite it, we need to find a way through it by focusing on something else.
Perhaps that could be getting engrossed in a good book, a creative hobby like crafting or crocheting, or maybe spending time with family or pets, or getting outside to enjoy the garden.
A distraction can bring a little respite from pain, even if only for a few minutes. But when that focus is something you truly love, it becomes more than distraction. It can remind you that there is more to you than pain.
For me, my husband and my dog play a huge role in doing that, along with hobbies like writing and word games. But my favourite hobby is art.
That doesn’t mean I am able to draw or paint every day. I can’t. But I still enjoy seeing art created by others. I’m part of a few art groups on Facebook and join in the chats so I still feel involved. I look at reference photos I might use one day, and I often scroll through my phone at artwork I’ve created in the past.
It’s a hobby I don’t want to let go of, even when pain is overwhelming. It helps me cope. It distracts me for a while, but more than that, it reminds me I am not just a woman living with pain — there is much more to me than that.
My Life Had Shrunk…Then I Found Art
Over thirty years ago, I had to give up work because of my back pain. At the time, it felt like my life had shrunk to one thing: pain. I remember the embarrassment when someone asked what I did for a living. I had nothing to say. It felt like there was nothing in my life beyond pain.
Then, somehow, I enrolled in an art class and everything changed. My pain didn’t disappear, but for the first time, I had something else: art. Going to class wasn’t easy, but I loved it and always looked forward to it — it was worth the payback pain. I learned to draw and paint with oils, which surprised me as I had no artistic background.
I fell in love with it. It gave me something to focus on — a creative outlet that didn’t erase my pain, but allowed me to step away from it, even if only briefly.
Focusing on Something You Love is More Than a Distraction
Art became more than a distraction — it was calming, grounding, and full of life lessons. My teacher was incredible and helped me more than he probably realised. The class was just two hours once a week, but it built my confidence and reminded me I still existed beyond my pain.
After a couple of years, my back meant I could no longer manage the class. I gave it up, intending to continue at home, but my motivation and confidence slowly faded. Eventually, I realised that if I wanted art to remain part of my life, I needed some structure and encouragement again — something that would motivate me to pick up my paintbrushes or pencils. But attending a physical class was no longer possible.
All I can say is, thank goodness for the internet.
Bonny Snowdon
My husband was trying to help me find online art tuition and discovered Bonny Snowdon on YouTube. She’s a colour pencil artist from Yorkshire. Her work is beautiful, and colour pencil felt like the perfect medium for me — no messy setup, no wasted paint, and something I could, hopefully, manage in short sessions.
I joined her Academy and fell in love with drawing again. Even when my pain is bad, and I can’t draw, I stay active in her Facebook group, and admire other students’ work. My mind is still engaged with art, even when I can’t create. On bad days, I try to look ahead to feeling better and being able to draw again.
I’ve never been able to draw for long periods. Two hours with several breaks was my limit, but often even ten minutes is enough. And some days I can’t draw at all because my pain is too overwhelming. When that happens, I listen to my body, because I’ve learned that art needs to remain something I love, not something that frustrates me.
Focus on What You Love
Something I’ve learned through Bonny’s teaching applies far beyond art: focus on what is working rather than what is not. We all have imperfections, but life feels lighter when we notice what’s going well instead of only what’s wrong.
Focusing on something you love doesn’t remove pain. But it does remind you there is more to life than discomfort, and more to identity than limitation. Art has given me purpose, confidence, and joy.
When drawing becomes too difficult because of my pain, I try to adapt how I work. And if I can’t manage to draw at all, I have to turn to the other things in my life that help me through, because I need something that reminds me I am not my pain.
Do you have something that helps you through difficult times? I’d love to hear what hobbies or interests you turn to.
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Thank you so much for reading.
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Take care,
Liz.
I’m so glad and happy for you having art in your life. It’s a really good reminder about where we put our focus, too. I often say about focusing on what we can change rather than what we can’t, but likewise as you say “focus on what is working rather than what is not… life feels lighter when we notice what’s going well instead of only what’s wrong.” So true, and I know I get caught up in all the things that aren’t going well, the things I’ve not done, the things that aren’t good, etc etc.
It’s a good way to look at a hobby or activity too for those who feel they don’t have the time or feel guilty for doing something nice for themselves. It’s important and it’s more than a hobby and it’s not selfish. It’s an important thing to have to keep ourselves going and to try to enjoy a little of life however we can. xxxx
PS. I like what you did there with the title!