Rule # 23: Brush Your Teeth

Rule # 23: Brush Your Teeth

( part of the Abby- light it up blue series)

Abby, I know I sound like a dentist on this one. But, the purpose of this rule is much more than what the dentist tells you brushing your teeth is about.

The dentist will tell you that the brushing process is about the “health” of you teeth and gums. That by brushing your teeth you will avoid cavities and keep your teeth healthy and white.

While this is of course true, the real purpose to brushing your teeth has a lot more to do with preparing for the the world than it does just the health of your teeth and gums.

It is easy for me even now as an middle aged man ( boy those words were hard to type) to forget about preparation for life. So much about life is just getting through it all, and we seldom take the time to real “prepare” for anything.

We rush to school.

We rush to work.

We rush to sports and activities.

What often gets lost in all this rushing is a focus on ourselves and how well we are prepare to handle the challenges of life.

We just can’t seem to find the time to exercise.

We just can’t seem to find the time to read for fun.

We just can find the time to get a hair cut, for time to shop for ourselves.

Everything is life becomes more important than taking care of ourselves and preparing for the next thing.

Abby, I know that much “rules” of life don’t seem to make sense. And that people do things for reasons that sometimes confuse you or just seem silly.

But I think sometimes these silly rules, like remembering to brush your teeth, are life’s reminders to take care of yourself and to spend a couple minutes focused just on Abby.

God gives us stinky breath in the morning to force us to take at least 3 minutes every morning and 3 minutes every night and just focus on ourselves feeling better. The healthy teeth issues are less important than the time you spend just focused on your needs.

Abby, those 6 minutes a day, regardless if you are listening to your Justin Bieber singing toothbrush or not, is a time when you should think about yourself- focus on what you need and how you look. You should be looking at yourself and asking yourself what do you need to do to be prepared for the day ( or the next day at night brushing).

Teeth brushing time is Abby time- and you should never miss a time to focus on what you need to do to prepare for the day.

There is one more thing that you need to remember during the teethbrushing time.

You will be looking in a mirror while brushing your teeth most of the time.

As you look at yourself in the mirror I need you to say three things to yourself everyday, and teeth brushing time is a great time to remember to say them.

1. I am loved

2. I am ready for today

3. Today is a new day, yesterday no longer matters

I know that the success and strength I have found in life has come from the fact that I knew everyday that I am loved by my wife, my parents and my children- and that whatever life threw at me I could handle it and their love would never leave me.

You carry the love of me, your mom, your grandparents and your brothers and sisters with you everyday. No matter what “yucky stuff” of life gathers on your teeth during the day a good teeth brushing and remembering that you are loved will get you through the day.

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