On not being dogmatic

As you all know, I try do do things myself whenever I possibly can.  For the most part, this has worked out really well.  I save money, I feel proud of myself, and the stuff I make is usually high quality and I'm happy with it.  I am learning that it is important not to be too dogmatic about this, though.  Not just for the sake of not being all hoity-toity about others who are not doing it, but also for my own sake.

In Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills by Raleigh Briggs, there is this:

"This, I think, is most important: if something makes you feel gross, or itchy, or you'd really rather take a pill, listen to your gut and do what is best for your terrifically free and unique body.  This book is about making your life better, not about being hardcore."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

I am having problems with my homemade toothpaste.  Jason is doing fine with it, so I'll keep making it for him.  But I am going to stop using it.  I have receded gumlines, which means that I have sensitive teeth.  And the abrasiveness of the homemade toothpaste means that it is scratching at my already-thin enamel.  My teeth have been in a lot of pain lately, whenever I drink something hot or cold, or eat something sweet or sour, or even breath in a big breath of air through my mouth.  It's becoming difficult to chew on one side of my mouth.  So I have decided to stop using the homemade toothpaste and go back to using Sensodyne (or its generic equivalent). I found a sample of Sensodyne from the dentist and it made my teeth so happy.  Happy teeth are teeth that can chew, and chewing is important.  So back on it I go.  I know it contains a lot of fluoride, which can be detrimental to health, but probably not as detrimental as not chewing.  I like chewing.  So Sensodyne it is.