19 Days of Thankfulness…Day 9

Yo Peeps,

Today I am thankful for…

my health. Health is yet another thing we overlook until something is wrong with us. I know I’ve been guilty of this. I’m just learning from a recent experience how important this is and I’m so grateful that at this point in my life everything can be fixed before it even becomes a thing.

For a long time I wouldn’t go to the dentist, not because I didn’t have healthcare but because much like the mechanic, I felt like my doctor always wanted money for something. So I assumed the dentist would be the same. It was crazy, I had to make an appointment for blood work, the actual appointment, separate appointments for the results and then those appointments took like 5 mins and then other appointments if there needed to be further inspection. Conveniently, they never missed charging my insurance and requesting co pays. I thought they were crooks and wasn’t about to let another health care professional get over on me. Besides, my teeth were nice, or so I thought…

I didn’t go until my tooth broke while chewing gum. It slam broke at work while chewing Double Bubble. I remember thinking to myself “This isn’t a blow pop. What is the hard stuff in my gum?” It indeed was my tooth. I can’t forget to mention that that very tooth was hurting for at least a month before the incident and it wasn’t uncommon for me to pull the Orajel out of my purse at any given time as I used it on the very frequent basis. Again, I’m sure you’re reading this thinking “She oughta be ashamed of herself,” and I should.

The Mayo Clinic, as well as a report from ABC News, highlight some major areas of concern:

• Cardiovascular disease: In a nutshell, this means heart disease. The bacteria from inflammation of the gums and periodontal disease can enter your bloodstream and travel to the arteries in the heart and cause atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Atherosclerosis causes plaque to develop on the inner walls of arteries which thicken and this decreases or may block blood flow through the body. This can cause an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. The inner lining of the heart can also become infected and inflamed a condition known as endocarditis.
• Dementia: The bacteria from gingivitis may enter the brain through either nerve channels in the head or through the bloodstream, that might even lead to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Respiratory infections: The Journal of Periodontology warns that gum disease could cause you to get infections in your lungs, including pneumonia. While the connection might not be completely obvious at first, think of what might happen from breathing in bacteria from infected teeth and gums over a long period of time.
• Diabetic complications: Inflammation of the gum tissue and periodontal disease can make it harder to control your blood sugar and make your diabetes symptoms worse. Diabetes sufferers are also more susceptible to periodontal disease, making proper dental care even more important for those with this disease

*Information found on: http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/gum-disease/article/how-poor-dental-care-can-affect-your-overall-health-0313

I brush my teeth everyday, I use baking soda, peroxide and mouthwash frequently. I’ve never had a problem with my breath and floss every so often.

Pearly whites, doesn’t mean the teeth are healthy- Me

My oral health wasn’t bad, even the dentist said so, but it wasn’t the best either and due to the lack of check ups there was no one to tell me that my filling had worn down and it needed to be repaired and because the exposed cavity went untreated, I ended up needing a root canal. It should’ve never come to that. It wasn’t until I had to go to the dentist did I realize just how bad things had become and how much worse they could’ve been. Not only that, but I noticed avoidances across the board.

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.- Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson (lol) *the internet is split on who said it

I wouldn’t take care of myself because I thought I was being responsible. I didn’t want to add anymore bills to my plate because I wasn’t sure I could pay and also because I didn’t think I could take the time off. Again, not because I couldn’t but because I knew that when I came back to work there would be mounds of work waiting on me and because of those very reasons, not only was I compromising my oral health but every other area of my life.

I wouldn’t take vacations, if I did, it was usually a staycation. Everyone else would take off, blaming their kids or some ambiguous family member, and I would be old faithful at work before everyone and sometimes even after everyone. I even had a nerve to get a second job this year. I thought it would help me financially and it does but what I didn’t take into consideration was what I was giving up. I gave up my time freedom, naps, opportunity to cook, play, workout, watch TV, run errands, spend time with LoLo (my dog) etc. and I took on more stress, less sleep, more personalities and attitudes…but I was making more money…but that’s pretty short lived when you realize that because you don’t have time to grocery shop or cook you spend majority of your money in gas or eating out. Therefore, your waistline expands and let’s not talk about the sleep denervation.

I know this sounds like a huge complaint but it’s me coming to myself. I honestly thought I was being punished because my full time job was letting me go but this discomfort is helping me to see that I can’t continue to treat my body the way I have, speak wellness over myself and continue in this way of living existing. Something has to give and apparently it has. “God hasn’t done this to me, He’s allowed it to happen FOR me.” This has been my mantra especially when things are looking bleak.

I know most people are looking for the new year to be phenomenal but I go by the Hebraic calendar and my year began in September (Rosh Hashanah), and despite what it has looked like, the setbacks have really been set ups. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t interested in what 2017 has in store; I am. I want to witness what only God can do in my life. I went to the dentist not because my tooth broke and it was hurting, it wasn’t hurting…once it broke.  I went because I realized how much I’d neglected myself. So I’m thankful for being corrected, for the “kick in the butt” to remember me in the midst of everything and for the reminder to LIVE and not just exist.

Peace Out, ✌

Beebz