It’s true that I am a person given to overly dramatic self-expression, AND I am in pain.

It’s true that I deal with my pain by being quiet about it, AND my pain is real.

It’s true that the way I deal with pain is not congruent with the way I deal with most other inconveniences in my life, AND my pain is real.

Here’s a thought: maybe pain is more than just a minor inconvenience. Maybe it matters more. Maybe that’s why it’s harder to be flip about it.