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Upper back pain still bothers me. Despite all the measures I have been taking, posture, taking frequent breaks, exercises, stretches, it does not get better. It’s been 13 years, and gradually getting worse. Sometimes even hard to find a comfortable position in bed. That really annoys me.

A few months ago, there was a weekend with very bad weather. We couldn’t go outside as we always do on weekends, so we decided to make dumplings. We made dumplings with onions, with celery, and with cabbage. We made hundreds of them. Dear husband is always the one wrapping up, and me the one making wraps. So the whole day I was bending over the cutting board rolling and rolling to make hundreds of perfect dumpling wraps.

At the end of the day, my back was so sore and achy, a sensation so familiar yet forgotten. That moment, it occurred to me that I had not been bothered by my achy back and shoulder for a while, maybe weeks, maybe a few months. You only know what you had when you lose it. That applies to health, not pain. So I was unaware my new earned pain free life until I lost it.

I had been following an online beginner’s weight training program for a year. I gave credit to that. I really think that exercise helped me with the pain relieve. I had been consciously and deliberately taking breaks and walks at work. I had tried to reduce sitting time. We do lots of weekend hikings. All of these put together, the miracle happened, only I wasn’t aware of it.

Now you would say how stupid I was. I let myself fall back to the chronic pain because of making dumplings. Yes, it was quite stupid.

Now working at home, my schedule is more flexible so I have more time to take care of my complaining back. It has not shown any improvement. I’ve been doing all sorts of exercises. No sign of improvement.

But at least I learned something from my stupid dumpling action. There could be a cure to my chronic back pain. As long as you stick to doing the good deed, overtime, a miracle could happen. This gives me confidence, and moreover, the motivation to stick to my exercise routine.

I exercise, and I pray. Please make that happen again!