​WHAT ARE YOU CHEWING ON? By Pennie Hunt

I can’t chew gum.
Oh, I used to. I always had gum in my purse, my car, and my mouth. I was familiar with small sugar-free kinds. The big bubble gum kinds. And the juicy flavored kinds. I would chew and chew until the taste and juice was gone and all that was left was a tuff, stiff wad that I would continue to chew until my jaw ached. No matter how hard I chewed, it would never return to its original soft flavor. I would finally dispose of it, replace it with a new stick, and begin the process again.
 
I knew it wasn’t a flattering habit. I knew I didn’t look good chewing constantly. I knew the popping and snapping of gum was irritating to others, but that wasn’t enough to stop me.

It wasn’t until I began having TMJ issues and experienced major dental work that I stopped. The painful procedure was enough to inspire me to want to keep my teeth and jaw healthy and not go back to the way things were.
 
What are you chewing on?
 
In life we pick our stress. We decide what we are going to ruminate on. What we are going to chew on and chew we do. It may be work issues, financial issues, relationship issues… pick one, or maybe you are one of those people who like two or three sticks of gum (life issues) in your mouth at a time.
 
We chew on the problem like it is a lump of gum. Chewing violently until the taste and juice is gone, leaving a tuff, stiff wad of pain that no matter how hard or fast we chew, never becomes soft again. In an unflattering way, the work of chewing becomes a habitual self-inflicted pain making sure that we never forget the issue we are dealing with. We want the reminder of it. We want to stress about it, so we keep chewing.
 
When our jaw aches from chewing, we replace it with a fresh stick of problems and begin the process again. Sometimes we swallow it because it isn’t enough that our jaw aches, but we want our stomachs to feel the pain too. We think about it so much that our heads and hearts begin carrying the hurt as well.
 
We won’t stop until we realize that chewing on a problem is not going to fix it. It may take a painful situation for us to see clearly and change our ways.
 
When we do stop, we will enjoy life more. The jaw, stomach, headache, and heartache will subside. The issues and problems won’t go away, but you will find other ways to deal with them.
 
I can’t chew gum. I also can’t chew on problems to the point of pain. I have done both in my life, but now I find other ways to deal with them. You have heard of these stress-busting ideas- exercise, meditation, breathing techniques, etc. They all work. Ruminating on a stressful issue without taking steps to find a solution doesn’t work. Stop chewing on your problems.
                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                       Don’t chew on a problem thinking it will get better.
                                Find other ways to deal with the situation. 
                                        ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

---

​YOUR TURN...        
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 [email protected]. 
                                                                 Thank you!  ​
                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                         All Rights Reserved
                                          Copyright © 2013-2025 Pennie Hunt
                             This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information.
​
#CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt  #IAmGoodEnough  #grief  #Love  #Joy  #HowToBeHappy  #Happiness 
**Love Your Life**  **Finding Joy**  **Gratitude**  **Mindset Shift**
**Positive Energy** **Mindfulness**  **Self-Care** **Resilience**
**Stop Comparing Yourself**  **Life Challenges**  **Happiness** 
**Authentic Life**   **Create a Life You Love**