Today I got my haircut. It was lovely. I went to a real salon for the first time since I was 16 (when I had a relaxer treatment done, which didn’t work as well as I’d hoped). Today I got probably 6 inches cut off. It feels great. My husband inspired me to do it. My head feels lighter. I feel free. Maybe I’ll run faster now. My hair feels so much cleaner too, not that it was dirty before. But it hadn’t been truly cut in over a year and the ends were split. It was long and scraggly. My shedding was almost on-par with my golden retriever. I could find my own long dark hairs on the kitchen counter, on the floor, in the shower, in the bathroom sink, in my car cupholder. Everywhere.

An old high school classmate was my stylist today. We caught up on life and our thoughts of the high school days. We’ve actually known each other since elementary school. She is beautiful and so good at what she does. Heck, she made my hair look good. I complemented her pretty hair and she said she told me that they are in fact extensions. I wouldn’t have known. The long, wavy golden locks hung gracefully from her head against her pink and white dress. As she clipped my hair, she told me a high school girl had come in today asking for extensions on her hair. When she was informed that they cost $600, she said she didn’t think she wanted to do it. Ha. I would have changed my mind, too.

Hair, it takes so long to grow out and can so quickly be chopped off. I guess in that sense it’s like building a stable home or marriage, or like saving for retirement, or like getting in shape. Sometimes a fresh start is needed in life. The haircut for me was just that today. Five hours in, I don’t regret parting with my locks. I like the new look. And my husband likes it. Sure, a haircut isn’t nearly as serious as building a home, life, retirement, physique, etc. But it made me think. I think about the intentionality required to be successful in these things. The time, the commitment. Maybe now with less hair to deal with, I’ll have more time to devote to the more important things in life. Getting rid of some hair has made me wonder what else I can get rid of. I’m sensing a purge this weekend. ~