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The Pain We Avoid Is the Life We Miss

—

And I realize that so much of the time,
we’re trying to avoid the very things
that will give us joy
just because we anticipate
the grief and pain of the later.

So we withhold,
distract,
and remove any chance
to feel something beautiful
just to shield ourselves
from potential pain.

The four paws next to me
will very unlikely outlive me,
and I know there’s a day
that I’ll have to say goodbye
to the very thing
that made me so happy
so many mornings,
so many adventures,
so many walks.

But would that mean
I should have never gotten him?

Would I not take
and cherish these moments?
Would I not let him walk by my side
just because one day
I’ll have to grieve them?

Never.

The whole point of this experience
is to feel..
the highs,
the lows,
the waves.

Flatline means there’s nothing.
It’s over.

So why are we trying
to protect ourselves so much
from feeling joy in the moment,
thinking it will only result in pain
in a future we’re not even in yet,

when the real pain
that we end up feeling
is the life we’re not living
just to protect us
from the pain?

-Heather Dyan Morgan

If you enjoying this, check out my podcast “Wandering the Wild Mess” on all streaming – http://www.wanderingthewildmess.com

#Poetry #PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscovery #StartingOver #FeelEverything #WanderingTheWildMess

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● About Me

I’m Heather Dyan Morgan, a writer, speaker, and podcast host who left behind everything I knew to start over from scratch.
Literally the definition of wandering the wild mess.

Born and raised in Utah (yes, I grew up Mormon), I walked away from the only life I had ever known—including a good man who simply wasn’t meant for me, and moved to Tennessee with no friends, no family, and no place to call home. I had spent over a decade climbing the corporate ladder, and one day I simply told my boss: “I’m moving. Keep me or don’t.”

A little wild? Maybe. But I’ve always felt like a caged bird waiting to be free.
And once I finally jumped, there was no turning back.

Those early months, bouncing between Airbnbs, navigating heartbreak, identity shifts, and deep solitude, were more than a leap. They were a rebirth.
And somehow, they became the beginning of everything.

Now I share my journey through my podcast (Wandering the Wild Mess), I’m working on an aligned project of digital healing guides, and continue to pour into the written word—because storytelling has always been my way of making sense of the chaos and helping others feel less alone in theirs.

I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil and asking deep questions since I could form a sentence. I’m endlessly curious about the human experience—how we think, feel, and move through this world. I believe we don’t fail; we just evolve.

I’m here to remind you that it’s okay not to have it all figured out. You’re allowed to grow, grieve, start over, and still be wildly worthy of love and joy.

I enjoy deep conversations, acoustic music, mountain views, and campfire moments that make you feel something. And I believe that if you’re reading this, you’re here for a reason.

Thanks for being part of my wild mess. Let’s wander it together.

And in case no one told you today—you matter

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