Answering The Challenge

On my last visit, to the dentist, she challenged me, to write something positive about her. This is my response.

You challenged me

During my last visit

To write something positive

About seeing you

As my dentist.

Not an easy thing

Given my relationship

With a previous dentist

Who used force

To maintain

My teeth health.

Threatening

My seven year old self

With physical violence

Should I continue

To resist him

A grown adult.

Knowing

About my mouth's

Narrow opening

Caused by

Scar tissue

From an electrical burn.

And my extreme phobia

About needles

I have.

But

With you

I have met someone

Who places

My needs

First.

In taking

The needed time

Gauging my anxiety level

Before starting any work

Upon my teeth.

Taking brief stops

When my anxiety

Balloons up

By talking to me.

To lower it

Back down

Before continuing.

Making me

Feel like

I matter

As a person.

Not something

I can say

For others

In my medical team.

Thank you

For your kind

And gentle hand

In treating my teeth.

In dealing

With me

As a person

Who matters

To you.