A Trip to the Dentist

The dreaded day was coming, I had a dentist appointment. One of my fillings had chipped as I chewed on a gummy mint and I had no alternative but to pick up the phone and make the call.

Apart from snakes (and I’m alchemizing even my reptile repulsion — I even stroked the head of a snake the other day — woohoo for me!), dentists have always topped my fear list.

The night before my D-Day I decided to put on my metaphorical ‘big girls panties’ and give myself a stern talking to. I told myself that everything was going to be fine; that my procedure will go quickly and effortlessly and that when he (*dread*) checks the rest of my teeth, all will be well.

Confidently Enters The Reception

As I marched into the dentists reception area, I was welcomed by the friendly receptionist. I was then ushered into the room where I was about to be ‘fixed’.

The dentist, as always, was amicable and kind. I just kept on reciting my BGPL (big girl panty lecture) in my head.

I then noticed that the reclinin

g chair I was in was really comfortable. It then struck me that this environment wasn’t so bad after all. The birds were chirping outside, and even though the implements of torture were in my peripherals, I felt a sense of peace.

The Truth Struck

As I sat there, m

outh open with gadgets prodding and poking, I felt a huge sense of gratitude wash over me.

What? I hear you yell!

Gratitude for being in the dentists chair with a scraper going at it hammer and tongs! Bits of tooth being drilled away and a smell of cooking bone dust in the air! Never!

Well, as unlikely as it may be, I felt really thankful. Thankful for:

1. Having the service of a trained professional
2. Having the anesthetic (two big thumbs up)
3. Knowing that after this small inconvenience I will be able to chew on the left side of my mouth again after exhausting the right side for 11 days
4. Feeling grateful that I can afford the service of a dentist (I have no medical aid but had a good month with my art sales)
5. Feeling really calm sitting in that chair and not digging my nails into my wrist like I normally do.

Wishes Come True

After he had patched up the problem (which he said was a minor thing…phew), he told me that the rest of my teeth were in great shape. My internal grin broadened and my big girl panties gave a shimmer of relief.

The whole procedure took 25 minutes! I thought I’d be in there for 45-60 minutes.

As I was paying my bill at the reception, I felt so much gratitude for this man going to medical school to be able to provide this amazing service (in lieu of the outrage I normally feel at being presented with the damage). I thought about how awful it must have been — back in the day — to have had to pull out your tooth with pliers or just let it rot…yikes!

The whole trip was a success! I felt elated (yes, walking out of a dentist room feeling gleeful is one for the books).

The moral of the story: you can alchemize anything and don’t you forget it!!!

If you liked this article, you may consider starting a gratitude journal. Every day write something you are grateful for, no matter how big or small. You’ll see your life start to change when you focus on the positive!

Get your gratitude journal today (click on this link or the picture below) for yourself or for someone you know who’s starting out on a self-empowerment path and could use a bit of motivation!

These gratitude journals can be purchased lined or blank (depending on whether you prefer drawing what you’re grateful for or writing it). They are 13.2cm x 18.6cm – a handy pocket-sized journal!

Read related articles: 3 Ways to Alchemize Chaos  and 5 Super Easy Exercises to Creating a Positive Life!

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