Flossing Your Life

Sometimes inspiration comes at the strangest times. Last night as I was flossing my teeth, I thought that it was a metaphor for my life. Not to be disgusting, but the floss was going in and the gunk comes out. In April a job that has been part of my life since I was old enough to see over the counter ended. I am home again with the kids full-time. We are getting ready to move, so I am purging all kinds of household items. And summer itself pulls away some of the tartar of life. I’m not sure if I’m cleaning my life or uncovering a severe case of gingivitis.

It’s like when you go to the dentist and get reprimanded for not flossing enough. When you first get home, you pledge to floss three times a day. Then it falls to two. Who is near a place to floss in the middle of the day? Then, one; why floss in the morning? You haven’t even eaten anything. Then, I was too tired. Oh my goodness, my appointment is next week. You try to catch up, hoping your bleeding gums don’t give you away. But after the appointment, you are back to old habits. How do you keep up the good habits? How do you keep the tartar away and the teeth gleaming white and clean? For me:

• I need to figure out how to enfold myself into my life so that the deepest me is exposed and not buried.
• I need to say “no” more often.
• I need quiet to be me (sometimes).
• I need to stop being afraid.
• I need to stop thinking that I responsible for things beyond my control.
• I need to stop saying, "I'm sorry".
  
  What do you need to brighten your smile?