September 30, 2025
Three days ago, I had a stiff neck. I chalked it up to bad posture, too much time at the desk, maybe even sleeping weird on the pillow. No big deal. But then two nights ago, it woke me up at 3 a.m. Not the gentle, “roll over and fall back asleep” kind of wake-up. I’m talking sharp, stabbing, “hello darkness, my old friend” kind of pain. By the time the kids were up at 7, I could barely move.
I couldn’t give my son a piggyback ride down the stairs. That’s my morning ritual with him, and there I was frozen stiff, trying not to grimace as I shuffled into the kitchen. I actually needed Motrin just to drink my coffee. And that’s when it hit me: is this what “too much pain” looks like?
Where’s the line?
Pain is weird. A sore muscle from a workout? Fine. A paper cut? Annoying, but manageable. But the kind of pain that interrupts sleep, hijacks your morning, and steals piggyback rides, that feels like a line crossed.
I think “too much pain” is when it starts robbing you of the things that matter. Not just comfort, but joy. Not just convenience, but connection. That’s the threshold where you stop toughing it out and start asking for help, whether that’s a doctor, a chiropractor, or just listening to your body before it goes full mutiny.
What pain teaches us
Pain forces us to pay attention. Sometimes it’s a wake-up call to slow down, stretch, rest. Other times it’s a not-so-subtle reminder that we’re not invincible, that bodies have limits, and ignoring them has consequences.
For me, the neck thing wasn’t just physical. It was emotional. It hurt more that I couldn’t play with my kids than that I couldn’t turn my head. That’s the pain I don’t want to tolerate.
So, how much pain is too much? For me, it’s when it stops me from living the story I want to tell, the one where I’m present, playful, and able to carry my kids (literally and figuratively).
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💬 Your Turn
So… how much pain is too much pain?
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