When I’m stressed out and thinking about the reasons why, I grind my teeth together. I am not even conscious of it – I clench them and they remain that way until the stress is gone. And now that I think about it, I must look pretty tightly-wound to people who see me on those days. My jaw all clenched, shoulders hunched . . . what a pretty picture I must be. I should start calculating how many people are edging away when they see me storming down the hallways at work.

I’ve been stressed since yesterday, because Steve had a job interview and it involved a test.  I was at work while he was at the interview, undergoing the test, and I can tell you I had my teeth clenched the whole time. When he finally called after the interview was over, I think I unclenched them for about five minutes while he told me it went well. Then, when he said “We’ll know by the end of the week” they clenched again, and I’m pretty sure they’ve stayed clenched ever since.

For example, last night. I woke up at about five a.m. and I had a blinding headache. Most likely because my teeth had been clenched for over 24 hours by that point! And even though I’m consciously trying to keep from clenching them, they automatically go to that position, so the headache is sticking around.

I am trying to chill out, though – what else can I do, it’s a situation that’s beyond my control! I read something good on my Facebook verse of the day yesterday: ”Do not be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”  (that might be slightly paraphrased). Anyway, that verse must have been written for teeth-clenching people like me. Do Not Be Anxious.

I guess that’s the bottom line.