Yesterday I accompanied my son to the dentist's office. He did marvelously. And the whole time I was there not a single dental hygenist, receptionist, or dentist looked at or even hinted at asking me about my teeth.
So why did I feel guilty and self-conscious the whole time?
All I could think was that no matter how much I kept my mouth closed and avoided eye contact, the hygenist could tell I drink alot of coffee, haven't been to the dentist in years, and don't floss. It plagued my mind. My mouth felt dirty and I felt ashamed. I scoured my teeth as soon as we got home.
Ah, guilt.
LBCF: Funny you should ask
1 day ago
3 comments:
brilliant post. if only we could floss out the corners of our hearts like that... DH
hmmmm maybe it was not so much guilt but a healthy nudge for you to get some work on your own mouth. I mean I think that people put the word guilt to to many things. Our brains are logical, and thus you being at the dentist you were thinking of your lack of dental hygiene. Great thing not guilt thing. Your brain is just telling you hey... I work and hey you should maybe go to the dentist yourself sometime.
Sorry silly I know. But I just think that people throw the word guilt to things when sometimes it is a good healthy brain thing telling you what you know you need and should go to the dentist. Obviously you believe in the need for dental hygiene since you take your children there!!!
Love reading your blog Jon
YEah, I agree Amanda. Precisely the nuance that I was thinking. Hard to find the line where guilt ends and conscience begins sometimes. I also wondered at the paralles to walking into church ... people may not be staring into our souls with condemnation but we can feel judged nonetheless. Sometimes guilt, sometimes conviction, not always easy discerning one from the other. And right conviction is certainly not a bad thing.
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