Change Is Good
- 09
- 10
- 10
So. Yesterday, I opened up. I told you that I have been plagued by the blogging blahs. It felt good to be honest. Turns out I am not the only one who is feeling a bit sluggish in these here cyberwoods. After posting, I did something strange. I called and made an appointment for a haircut. I didn’t exactly need one; I got my hair cut just a couple of months ago. But I needed one. A cut.
A change.
I know. So so cliched. Existential rut = bring on the scissors. Fine. Truth be told, I have been contemplating a coiffure change-up for a while. I came close to going for it a year ago and then I saw a silly Katherine Heigl movie that said only long hair is attractive and got cold feet. I kid not. I’m impressionable like that. Anyway, yesterday, I felt particularly brazen. I arrived at the salon and even though I was scared, I said to my miracle man, “Let’s chop it.”
And so he did. After he cut it, my biggest fear was looking down. The very idea of seeing a hardwood floor blanketed in foot-long strands of my discarded hair traumatized me. But, finally, I did it. I peered down there. And, thankfully, my hair had already been swept away. I looked up, and into the mirror, at my new ‘do and smiled. A priceless lesson there: Focus on what you have and what you’ve chosen. Not on what you’ve lost or let go.
Before. Before, my hair was long, sexy, unruly, straggly. I loved it, but 96% of the time it looked like a mess.
Before. I often twirled my hair into a messy bun. A practical, go-to mommy move.
Before. Every now and then, on a special occasion (like on the night of my very first book reading above!), I would get my hair done and I loved it then. But life? It’s not a string of special occasions. It’s a necklace of days, busy days, where hair is what it is, hanging on for the ride.
After. My hair is simpler, sweeter, sleeker. More precise. I feel good. I feel new.
After. I feel a little bit of mojo return. Magic. I am happy, light, free. Here, I am surprised because Baby, my sweet 22-month-old darling, just did her very first pee on the potty! Score! See? Amazing things happen when you take risks. Change is contagious.
After. A smug, almost-smile. Does this look like a girl with a happy secret? I think so. Stay tuned…
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- Is there anything more self-centered than taking pictures of oneself with one’s phone and then posting said pictures to one’s blog? (Answer: No. Not really.)
- Like my new look?
- Have you ever gotten a drastic cut? Was it an amazing or terrible experience?
- Do you think a change in physical appearance can trigger a mental/emotional shift?
- Have you ever heard of a haircut prompting a foray into potty training?
I absolutely love your new cut! I do understand the whole I need a change so cut. I am that way.
stinkin awesome.
happy hair cut liberation!
change is good.
Fantastic! Love the bangs. I always want bangs but then when I have them I can’t wait for them to grow! Sad, but true, I am changing my hairstyle constantly. I have only once in my 42 years truly regretted a haircut in the moment. The rest are only regrettable looking back after many years. Like the platinum blonde asymmetrical bob cut I had in 1989. But it was cool then, and I loved it!
Enjoy your new do. Indulge in some self-centeredness. Who Cares?
I love it! I change my hairstyle on average once every two years. I get bored with it so easily, even if it’s a look that I love! Right now it’s in a long bob, and it’s one of my favorites ever, but I’ve been seriously contemplating getting it really short (almost pixie-cut short) just to get the last of my most recent dye job gone.
Congratulations to your Baby!
Coming out of the woodwork and de-lurking to say your hair looks AMAZING! Change is good.
Love it, sweet Aidan. Love it! My one and only drastic cut was a disaster (think fiancee staring at me and the only words he could must were….”Oh.” And he was right. It WAS terrible.) xo
Love. Love. Love.
Had been wondering what the verdict was ever since your Tweet yesterday. Congrats on being bold and choosing change. It’s never easy, but usually good.
“Focus on what you have and what you’ve chosen. Not on what you’ve lost or let go.” Thanks also for this little gem. True on so many levels.
XOXO
It looks really good, Aidan! I’m trying to grow mine out for locks of love, but it grows sooo slow. It’s tempting to cut it off. We’ll see if I can stand it another year!
I’ve had my hair all different lengths, and I find that whenever I stray from my stylist of ten years– I never like it.
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You new haircut rocks. Love it and the bangs look awesome. Cheers to Change!
I’m curious given your reference to the movie what your husband thinks. My husband, who really would not notice if I returned home 9 feet tall has hair-length preferences. I know, it’s my hair not his but I have hair preferences for him too. Change is good (though scary). At least your change was your choice. I just received a hair color change I hadn’t requested.
Looks great, Aidan!
You are too cute
Love the new cut!
I love it! I love the bangs–man, fringe bangs are so “in” right now and I wish I had the guts…the last time I had bangs I was probably in third grade. I should just do it. I vacillate (read: chop and then grow out, chop and then grow out) between chin-short hair and rib cage-long hair. Change is good.
And PS–I totally internalized that Katherine Heigl comment about long hair, too! What the heck?!?
I love your new do!! It is so stylish:) I have been growing out my hair for over a year now and it always seems to be up in a mommy bun!!
I also had my haircut too and my nails done with nail polish both fingers and toes. change is good and contagious.
I chopped my hair off in first grade to play t-ball, and my teacher thought I was a new student … a boy. Since then I’ve been a little gun-shy.
But. For months I’ve been pondering bangs. Bangs! And doing something drastic to rid myself of this mom-ponytail. Thanks for the snips of inspiration! =>
Looks terrific! Hey, hair cuts are GOOD.
I love it!!! Looks great!!!
What’s the secret? Huh huh huh? (Can I guess?)
I love the new ‘do! I’ve been having a pretty hard time right now too and I’m thinking a sleek, blonde bob could be just the thing for me, too.
Oh it’s sexy and sassy! Way to go with taking the plunge.
What I love about hair, and I don’t mean to be disingenuous, is that it grows! So if I really hate a haircut, big deal. You can have your long blonde hair again several times over before you’re too old to wear long blonde hair (which, nowadays, based on what I’m seeing on 70 year olds, might be never…)
I am jealous of that ability to tie your hair into a knot, though. Wow.
I love it!!
I love your new do. So cute! And I’m a big fan of haircuts that prompt change. When I was a sophomore in high school, I hit a horrible slump. And frequently, I am known to let slumps fester and turn into horrid defeat – the kind that eats me up and leads to disasters. But instead of letting that happen, I cut my hair. Super short. Like boy short. And my life changed because of that haircut. I kept it relatively short for the next three years. And now I’m growing it out to see how long hair might suit me again. But yes, I do believe in the power of a new look to prompt change. After all, you have to start somewhere.
I am new to your blog, therefore new to your look. I have to say, the shorter cut looks great.
I drastically chopped my hair when a huge change occurred in my life. It came out fantastic, but I did miss my long hair. I eventually grew it out again, and now I’m thinking about bangs.
I absolutely believe a change in appearance triggers a mental and emotional shift. A new haircut, outfit, or make-up can give you a new-found confidence (assuming it’s good!). I believe it also has something to do with acquiring new attention and being complimented. That always feels good.