Unpleasant Luxuries

If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience. 

Robert Fulghum

Emma got braces recently. They made her miserable. (The cost made me a little miserable.)
 
There are a lot of unpleasant things in the world that are wonderful luxuries though. Blessings really. Braces are among them. How lucky we are to be able to put a little money and a little pain into a lifetime of straight teeth that will not only look better but work better?
 
I started thinking about more disagreeable things that turn out making life better. There are vaccinations, going to the dentist, getting a mammogram. Wearing seatbelts, driving within the speed limit when you’re late, red lights when you’re late, (What?  I'm late sometimes) bicycle helmets.
 
What about receiving constructive criticism? It’s no fun to be told you’re wrong/ineffective/not doing well enough but sometimes it’s the nudge you need to improve…the only way you can improve. It’s nice to have people that care enough about you to kindly tell you the truth and what you need to do better.
 
Like braces, worth the discomfort.