A Note from Your Local Tooth Fairy

Alright. Let's talk about it. Growing up is disturbing, and it never stops. With each new stage of development, our identity seems to crack us open and reemerge. Sometimes, with joy and anticipation and other times with anguish and trauma. Becoming a new you often feels like the process of losing a tooth. You've seen this tooth every day in the mirror for the past 6 years of your life, and it even helped you chew your favorite candy (begrudgingly). And now, it meets its demise and is to be replaced by an angry imposter that fights its way through your smile. All while you lay its predecessor to rest under your pillow and pray it finds its way home with divine assistance (the tooth fairy).

Every day, you feel the urge to show people the empty space where the old parts of you used to reside. You somehow need to acknowledge, "I've changed". It's a badge of honor, but you also see the look of amusement on others' faces when you show it. What's really going on?

The truth is...we are the gums, and the various "I Ams" we acquire over our lifetime are the teeth that appear, disappear, and reappear again (sometimes with the help of prosthodontics). But these teeth ultimately serve as the aesthetic lead star who help us make friends and memories, feel better, and send social cues. These teeth are also the behind the scenes crew members who assist with our eating, speech, and facial support.

Some are stronger than others, and some are more difficult to work with than others.

Ultimately, no matter how important you see this version of yourself to be, it will change. It will fall away. And you should honor that. And we can either desperately pull change from within ourselves or allow it to happen naturally (which may ring notes of fear, pain, excitement, and pride). Whatever you choose... just remember to smile.

*please note this is a word of encouragement during discouraging times, not a charge to bypass your emotions.

Art: 'HAI Smile' by Roger Haus

Love,

Gabbi