When I started “Pinching the Ostrich”, the very first fear I decided to confront was to take care of my underbite. To finally start waring braces, to finally plan the surgery, to finally execute what I had decided on 25 years ago and had been putting off ever since.
But braces and surgery by themselves are just part of the story. They are merely means to an end. Far more important than the tools, is the goal I mean to achieve with them.
To reveal the person that has been hiding from himself for 2.5 decades. Someone not afraid of smiling.
I want to smile, truly smile, without any reservations, without holding my hand in front of my mouth, without turning my head towards people so they wouldn’t notice my profile characterized by my underbite. To truly and unappologetically smile. To finally leave that place where it is OK to feel sorry for myself.
This is the video I made when the braces came one
Pinching the Ostrich: Fear #1 from Karl Raats on Vimeo.
On July 8th 2009 the braces came on, creating a mental and physical point of no return. These braces prepare my upper and lower teeth for the surgery that was to follow approximately one year later. The date for that corrective jaw surgery is now set on August 5th 2010, or little over 10 weeks from now.
That day my upper jaw will be placed forward, takin the one hurdle I have dreaded for 25 years. If all goes as planned, the braces go off in February 2011, 9 months from now. To me, in a very real way, I will be reborn 9 months from now.
Why not let this count down coincide with another PtO goal: get in shape (see all 2010 goals). What if that smile I have put on hold so long would be accompanied with a matching physique. So instead of crooked teeth sitting in a near 40 couch potato, why not celebrate that radiant smile in a drop dead frame. I mean, a great picture requires a quality frame, right? :-) Why? Because I owe it to my smile. Because I want to reveal me and all I can be for myself, the ones I love and love me in return.
And this is the what. I’m going to have loads of fun doing a 98 days of 14 weeks summer contest of A+ food, A+ exercise and A+ mindset. And yes, September 1st, the before and after pics and video will go online. I'm joining a "burn the fat summer challenge"
And already the corrective jaw surgery doesn’t feel so much as a hurdle anymore, but rather a gift, albeit one that still makes me a little nervous. Or is it giddy with anticipation?
Tomorrow at 06:00AM the challenge starts. And it's brutal.
Looking forward to it.
Karl
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