He is not telling you to "be grateful for [your] suffering." You are projecting a bit here or otherwise reading into it the wrong way. He is saying that despite

He is not telling you to "be grateful for [your] suffering." You are projecting a bit here or otherwise reading into it the wrong way. He is saying that despite your ongoing issue with your eyesight (and I am sorry to hear that), you are much more than that. What would happen if you met a funny, cute, good-spirited woman that was stuck in a self-defeating thought loop and letting a health issue define her outlook and worldview? I think it would make her less fun and less attractive and would more or less be awkward. I've been struggling with depression and anxiety for 15 years and haven't dated anyone since 2015 and can't afford therapy to "fix" this stuff, but as parent suggested, a change in perspective can be extremely potent.