Hello my friend,
The sun’s out. I repeat. The sun is out. And what a difference it makes. I love my office cave in the winter with all its cosiness but being able to stroll through the park sans big coat with the gentle warmth glowing through the tree canopy… That's when a new season of living really begins.
But, before that, I’ve got to get this damn tooth taken care of. It’s been a long week of significant discomfort, soup, smoothies, and pain-killers!
To bring you up to speed it began a few weeks ago when I was hit in the face by a low-flying mango (!!!). Filling dislodged - and then removed entirely by a helpful fruit pastille - I made my way to the dentist. “I can’t repair it; you’ve got an impacted wisdom tooth” said he. “Brilliant,” I thought “Just when life doesn’t need to be any more complicated.”
Fast forward three weeks when, on the dentists’ recommendation, I’m back to get the damn thing removed. You’d expect that - at this thought - I’d be in my ‘pre-dentist panic’ state of yore. Sweating profusely; teeth clacking; wishing and praying to every arcane god that someone else could fix the problem in another life.
But I’m not.
I am oddly calm. A little warm maybe but I’m not trying my hardest to get the heck out there! I guess toothache will do that to a guy.
Cue the anaesthetic (easily the worst bit of the whole ordeal so far) and half an hour of my dentist literally hanging off my lower jaw trying to get the tooth free from its bony jail. My dentist had already warned me that, given the position of the tooth, it looked a bit complicated and he might not be able to get it out. A referral to a specialist couldn’t be made unless he tried, though, so I willed him into action with as much trust as I can muster.
After all the tugging, scraping, and wiggling the man couldn’t do the thing. The problem tooth was firmly lodged. Bugger.
One referral later and I’m booked into yet another dentist for a second go. Hopefully they’ll be able to sort it.
If my story has made you a little uncomfortable I apologise - it’s not my intention. I know dentistry is not everyone’s’ jam. But it is important for me to tell you because there is a lesson - some personal learning - in the experience.
Fears change. Or rather, when confronted by ‘the thing we thought scared us’ we can discover ourselves to be vastly more capable of overcoming it than we assumed in our projection. The idea of getting a tooth pulled is far from pleasing. But being in the chair knowing there is literally no other way than through… You’re present in your fear. You’re given an opportunity to experience it and understand it. And you’re afforded a chance to completely disempower it.
After all; some things are inevitable. Some are avoidable by action or by choice. But by acknowledging that you can move through ‘the thing which scare you’ everything in life becomes easier. Seriously.
I mean, having the hideous toothache has diverted all my pain receptors away from the crippling back pain which normally plagues my existence. There’s some bitter irony here I am certain…
Public speaking. Showing up on camera. Posting to LinkedIn. Asking the cute boy or girl out for coffee. Saying no to things you don’t want to do.
Whatever you think scares you is likely way less intimidating when you just get up and do it.
What’s stopping you?
TTFN,
Tom