"But i still pushed on, despite hallucinating due to pain and sleep deprivation."
Who knew you could hallucinate so inexpensively! I paid good money for my hallucinations!
A buddy and I were riding around the south island of New Zealand some years back. For nine days we rode into a headwind. Didn't matter which direction we traveled, we were always riding into a fairly strong headwind. Not fun with loaded touring bikes – especially before I knew or cared about lightweight gear (my tent weighed 7 pounds!). As we approached Queensland, it started to rain. Hard. We hunkered down on our bikes with frowns on our faces.
But we were in New Zealand, darnit! So suddenly, at the top of my lungs (no kidding), I started singing 'Oh What A Beautiful Morning.' Off key too. Soon we were cracking up and having a grand old time again, rain and wind regardless.
I agree with someone up above (no, not THAT up above, earlier in the thread) who said it's often a matter of attitude. Often (not always) things suck until you decide they don't. And then they simply don't anymore. Doesn't mean the pain goes away, it just means you've decided the pain won't be joined by misery. Which really ticks pain off – it hates it when you smile right into its red, puffy face. I like making pain mad. It fulfills me.
