In times of intensity, we have more options than just fight or flight. We don't have to repeat the patterns of our primitive ancestors. Fight or flight is very important when we're in danger but really - how often are we in mortal danger these days? And yet we fall into fight or flight in response to everyday stressors on the road, in the office, with our children etc.
There was a very clear moment when I sat with my tooth in my hand in a bit of shock where I was able to choose how I was going to move forward from this moment. Luckily for me, I had space to notice that decision - it's much harder to notice if we feel pushed to react with urgency. So I chose to embrace my situation, I chose to run towards my fear laughing madly at it. I'm so glad I did.
The interesting part of this experience has been to watch how other people deal with looking at me. I've seen all sorts of reactions. Most people react in shock and then laugh with me as we discuss it - they take their queue from me, if I'm easy about it, so are they.
Some people can't help tapping at the tooth in their mouth while talking to me, some people run their tongue over their teeth over and over again as they talk to me (I don't think they realise they're doing it).
The hardest reaction has been from the people who try to ignore it. Their eyes widen at the sight of the gap but they decide in a split second of panic to keep going with talking to me and pretend nothing is different. They don't realise that I saw the shock and surprise in their eyes.
There are people who have seemed fine with it and then quietly suggest that maybe I should stay home the next day "no one would blame you". There are people who say I need to get it fixed asap because "it's not a good look".
I had one girl ask if she could take a picture of me for her friends to which I respectfully said no, after all I am not a circus freak. She went on trying to tell me what she thought I might like to hear for instance telling me that "it suits me", which would have been ok if I felt like she meant it but she wasn't being real.
So despite my embracing of what is and my confidence, I will get a new tooth because this is a new me. Out with the old and in with the new. I'm a caterpillar that's really ready to let go of being a caterpillar and step into being the magnificent butterfly I truly am.
Thanks for listening to me and my journey.
Bron (yar me hearties)
Want to see what happened next? CLICK HERE
There was a very clear moment when I sat with my tooth in my hand in a bit of shock where I was able to choose how I was going to move forward from this moment. Luckily for me, I had space to notice that decision - it's much harder to notice if we feel pushed to react with urgency. So I chose to embrace my situation, I chose to run towards my fear laughing madly at it. I'm so glad I did.
The interesting part of this experience has been to watch how other people deal with looking at me. I've seen all sorts of reactions. Most people react in shock and then laugh with me as we discuss it - they take their queue from me, if I'm easy about it, so are they.
Some people can't help tapping at the tooth in their mouth while talking to me, some people run their tongue over their teeth over and over again as they talk to me (I don't think they realise they're doing it).
The hardest reaction has been from the people who try to ignore it. Their eyes widen at the sight of the gap but they decide in a split second of panic to keep going with talking to me and pretend nothing is different. They don't realise that I saw the shock and surprise in their eyes.
There are people who have seemed fine with it and then quietly suggest that maybe I should stay home the next day "no one would blame you". There are people who say I need to get it fixed asap because "it's not a good look".
I had one girl ask if she could take a picture of me for her friends to which I respectfully said no, after all I am not a circus freak. She went on trying to tell me what she thought I might like to hear for instance telling me that "it suits me", which would have been ok if I felt like she meant it but she wasn't being real.
So despite my embracing of what is and my confidence, I will get a new tooth because this is a new me. Out with the old and in with the new. I'm a caterpillar that's really ready to let go of being a caterpillar and step into being the magnificent butterfly I truly am.
Thanks for listening to me and my journey.
Bron (yar me hearties)
Want to see what happened next? CLICK HERE
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