Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Takesomethingassimpleasstubbingyourtoe.Ifyou’relikeme,whenyoustubyourtoeyouscreamenoughfour-letterwordstomakePopeFranciscry.Youalsoprobablyblamesomepoorinanimateobjectforyoursuffering.“Stupidtable,”yousay.Ormaybeyouevengosofarastoquestionyourentireinteriordesignphilosophybasedonyourthrobbingfoot:“Whatkindofidiotputsatablethereanyway?Seriously?”

           ButIdigress.Thathorriblestubbed-toe-inducedpain,theoneyouandIandthepopehatesomuch,existsforanimportantreason.Physicalpainisaproductofournervoussystem,afeedbackmechanismtogiveusasenseofourownphysicalproportions—wherewecanandcannotmoveandwhatwecanandcannottouch.Whenweexceedthoselimits,ournervoussystemdulypunishesustomakesurethatwepayattentionandneverdoitagain.

           Andthispain,asmuchaswehateit,isuseful.Painiswhatteachesuswhattopayattentiontowhenwe’reyoungorcareless.Ithelpsshowuswhat’sgoodforusversuswhat’sbadforus.Ithelpsusunderstandandadheretoourownlimitations.Itteachesustonotfuckaroundnearhotstovesorstickmetalobjectsintoelectricalsockets.Therefore,it’snotalwaysbeneficialtoavoidpainandseekpleasure,sincepaincan,attimes,belife-or-deathimportanttoourwell-being.

           Butpainisnotmerelyphysical.AsanyonewhohashadtositthroughthefirstStarWarsprequelcantellyou,wehumansarecapableofexperiencingacutepsychologicalpainaswell.