How a Painful and Embarrassing Medical Procedure Changed My Life
Embracing Unconventional Opportunities
When I was 6, I suffered my first terrible fall.
It snapped my left incisor clean in half and warped my young gums into an embarrassing position. It happened during an intense game of tag (catcha, if you’re Nigerian).
It’s funny, because physical play has never really been my thing.
7 years later, that tooth was fixed but the malocclusion stayed, inflicting a painful self-consciousness.
Then things got pretty interesting.
"I recommend you get braces," the dentist said. "Your smile needs to be bold and free."
A reeling 18-year-old me sat opposite him with my mom, trying to process this. My exposure to this dental procedure was limited only mostly to American Highschool angsty drama and YouTube.
Implications (concrete, belly-turning ones) flashed through my mind, but I knew I needed to take that step.
So, I did...
…And got much more than I bargained for.
Fast forward to a few months after, while in my 3rd year at the University, I had them installed.
They told me 18 months.
I had it on it for 36.
And in a society where 80% of people knew next to nothing about braces.
What a ride😅
So, I entered a realm of several hundred confused stares, careful questions, outright mockery, swollen gums, piercing pain, and miserable days.
But it was WORTH IT.
In addition to having straight, white teeth & a great smile, here are 4 powerful ways the painful and embarrassing procedure called braces enhanced my life (and how it can do so to yours):
#1. An Expanded Intellect
I had the natural reaction to unfamiliar territory: Relentless research.
Surfing through tons of videos, articles, and blog posts became my favorite past time.
I soaked in the info, and to this day, I still can sustain above average conversations with medical personnel on the topic.
Worth it.
#2. A Fired-up Confidence
This one was foisted on me with practical lessons.
The shyness about the brackets and metal wiring in my mouth stood no chance.
I HAD to interact, in spite of all the confounded stares and low-key stigma. Maybe you’ve got a memento from a previous procedure yourself. The gold is to own it with pride. It’s working something beautiful within you.
The more I spoke to people, the bolder and freer I became.
Worth it.
#3. An Expansive Patience
When 18 months turned to 36, and the treatment spread across 2 states, in the midst of the merciless discomforts of the treatment, my patience stretched taut.
But it didn't have the option of snapping.
So, I learned how to endure with hope.
Worth it.
#4. An Improved Health
You must have caught on to the fact that braces are high maintenance.
That’s probably the biggest understatement in medical history. Caring for them enhanced my eating and hygiene habits to unprecedented levels. It sharpened my attention to detail.
So, I rose to a healthier routine, and flourished much more.
Worth it.
So, that's the story of how a 3-year medical procedure transformed my life.
Moral?
Silence fear, and embrace opportunities that help you evolve into better versions of yourself, regardless of how unconventional or how far out of your comfort zone they are.
Completely worth it, trust me.
Have you experienced something similar as well?
Hello, Aniii. Thanks for sharing.
For me, I can't rememeber having a similar experience now but I like the whole fact of turning a seeming challenge to your gain. More like acting the proverbial phrase (paraphrased) 'turning lemons to lemonade'.
It may not be easy, but as you said, it's always worth it.