One dentist compliment sparked a life truth
A chance remark from her dentist made the author realise she thrives on positive feedback.
Nat Locke went to her annual dental check-up and brushed her teeth obsessively for ten minutes and flossed properly for the first time in a year. Nat Locke's dentist declared she had excellent oral hygiene, and she felt ten feet tall.
The compliment sent her back through her whole life. Nat Locke remembered being four at the dentist, keeping her mouth wide open the entire appointment because that seemed to be the instruction.
She got a sticker for it. She remembered primary school, chasing scratch-and-sniff stickers shaped like strawberries.
Now an adult, she realised that praise, real, specific praise, is what makes her move. A few true words and she's all in.
- 4 years old
- First dentist age
- 1 year
- Flossing gap before appointment
- 10 minutes
- Brushing duration before visit
- DB Dental
- Recent dentist location
Why it mattersMost of us learned to brush off compliments. Locke's honest reckoning with how much they matter is a permission slip to want them and act on them.
AustraliaA relatable Australian voice on the small truths we learn about ourselves late, when we should have known all along.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
