Wisdom teeth wanderings

This archived article was written by: Katrina Wood

I don’t know why they call them wisdom teeth, because they’re not a smart idea.
With that being said, I’m glad getting wisdom teeth removed is a one-time deal. Can you imagine what it would be like if we got a new set of wisdom teeth every few years? For the imaginative adult who still believes in the tooth fairy I suppose it would be okay, but for everyone else, it would be tiring at best and, “please kill me” at worst.
When I got my wisdom teeth out over the break, I didn’t lean either way. I was tired and experienced pain, but didn’t collapse or experience agony that made me want to rip my hair out. Yeah, I slept soundly when I didn’t take pain medication that kept me up—which was awful, by the way—and I did get dry socket in one spot, but the ordeal wasn’t as bad as expected.
That sounds kind of funny, but it’s true. I expected searing pain akin to spending your summer vacation in the Sahara Desert when you’re dressed for the Alps, but I didn’t have that. It was tear inducing at times, but doable. I guess for once, expecting the worst paid off.
But you know what? That’s something I’ve done a lot lately, and not just with things like physical pain. When I get excited for something, my automatic reaction is to take a step back and think: Why am I doing this? Why aren’t I preparing myself for what’s going to go wrong? And while I know it sounds dumb, it’s a habit that’s harder to kick than you think.
As with other things, I’m doing my best to overcome it. I’m trying to be positive and expect the best, but it’s difficult when things do go wrong. Though my life isn’t miserable by any means, I’ve had my fair share of trials. Through them, I’ve learned that life doesn’t always go the way you planned. But as an unfortunate by product, I’ve come to feel guilty when I want good things to happen.
I get mad at myself for wanting something nice. Whenever I start thinking wishfully, I stop and tell myself, “Hold on. You’ve got it easy. You shouldn’t be hoping and praying for this when there are people who have it worse than you.” And should I be grateful for what I already have? Absolutely. But is it bad for me to want something, especially when it’s good? After many years of expecting the worst, I’ve decided no.
It’s not only good to want something and expect the best out of life; it’s great. In a funny roundabout way, expecting the good does a lot of good. By expecting the best out of life and believing you’re worthy of good, your attitude improves. You smile more, people treat you better and the world has a way of shining brighter.
It’s hard to explain, but when you expect the best out of life, it actually starts to happen.
For some it’s a bit slower than others, but for all it’s a guarantee. Expecting the best and being positive attracts the best situations and experiences, and even when things don’t go as planned, good attitudes have a way of making the situation a lot easier. It’s a sunny disposition with little downsides, and one I’m doing my best to adopt.
So yes, there will still be bad days in my future. I won’t deny that, but won’t count on them anymore. I won’t expect them to be a part of my life and when they do happen, I’ll do my best to brush them off. I’ll say it loud and proud and I’ll say it without any fear or remorse: good things are going to happen to me this year.
And I suggest you do the same. But when it comes to wisdom teeth, in this one situation, I advise you to expect pain. It’s about the only place where expecting the worst pays off.