The Best People * Your Daily Brain Vitamin v.11.4.14

Trendy Wendy Wednesday * Wendy Gets A Haircut

Me, my new hairdo and one of my favorite tshirts from my friend Stacey.  Cuz Iowa IS awesome! And 75% vowels.

I did something really scary yesterday. Like scarier than Halloween scary. I cut my hair. I mean I didn't cut my OWN hair but I had my hair cut. A lot of it. Like five inches. 

My sister and I circa 1980. At this point, I'm still recovering from the boy haircut. And pre-braces.

I can see you shaking your head. Yes, you. I know most folks don't find haircuts scary, and normally I don't either. I actually love going to my hairdresser Mario to get my hair done.  One, his color is amazing. My hair is a flat brown color by nature. He makes it look like I'm Princess Kate. And for a while, I had hair as long.

If you lived through the 70's then you remember these babies. My head hurts just looking at them.

But you see, there's a back story. When I was a little girl, I had long, straight brown hair and I loved it. Well, except the part where mom would pull my hair into those pony-tail holders with the colored plastic balls at the ends. Those damn things hurt my head every day. 

What I looked like after the "boy" haircut (this is Mia Farrow, but the resemblance is striking, I think).

I think I was about nine when my sister and I were shipped off to spend a week with my grandparents in Omaha. My grandparents came and picked us up at our house and mom causally mentioned that, "the girls could both use haircuts." Next thing I know, I'm in the salon chair with my grandmother looking over my shoulder and my long hair is falling to the floor.  

Everyone wanted the Dorothy Hamil.

Except me. I wanted to look like Wonder Woman (I still love her. My car is named Linda CARter. Don't judge).

Why didn't anyone have me dry my hair after coming in from the pool before the photo?! Good lord that's awful. And let's not even talk about that neck. (circa 1983)

Granted, it was the early 70's and short cuts were in (remember Dorothy Hamil?). But I had folks confusing me for a boy. "Are you looking for a present for your mommy, little boy?" (that was at the Singer sewing store in Merle Hay Mall as Dad, my sister and I looked for something for my mom for her birthday). I was devastated. 

The '80's bob was too appealing. Plus the coolest girl I knew had one. So I got one too.

This isn't me but it is my old haircut. Even the popular girls complimented me on my courageous cut. My mom and Dad? Not so much.

Over the years I tried to grow it back out. I'd get it so far and I'd get frustrated (or Mom would, because it looked awful) and cut it again. Or there would be a trend I couldn't pass up (Erin Henz and her bob haircut was just too much. I had to have a bob too). And there was that bi-level in high school. The one mom told me I couldn't have but I did anyway (got me in such trouble my parents pulled me off of the cheerleading squad as punishment - the only time I ever made a cheerleading squad. My life was ruined. But my hair looked awesome). It was in my thirties before I was able to stand growing it out to get it to my shoulders again.

Me two weeks ago today shooting the Trendy Wendy Wednesday Lipstick post you all loved. 

Long hair at last. But yet, not quite long enough (this was about 3 years ago)

And for the last fifteen years or so, long hair has been in and I've kept mine past shoulder length with the dream of growing it about five inches past my clavicle (for you non-anatomy people, that's your collar bone).  
But times change. And I was ready for a change. So I did what all girls do - I searched on Pinterest for a hairstyle I liked. And I found a couple of photos, pinned them and off to see Mario I went. 

That's just some of the hair no longer attached to my head.

And then I freaked out on the inside. But he was so excited about taking off the length, I couldn't back out. Five inches later, a bunch of my hair was on the floor and I had a new shag haircut. Which I love. Other than that weird feeling you have when you run your hand through your hair forgetting a bunch of it is missing, I'm loving the way it moves and it actually feels lighter. Who knew.

Lighter. Feeling free. And loving the buzz you get from doing something a little scary.

So my advice to you: do it. Now. Before the fear takes over. You don't have to get your hair cut, but do something that scares you a little bit. And then celebrate it. And tell me about it in the comments. And for the boost of courage - you're welcome.

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Wendy's Words of Wisdom v5.15.14

Don't ever let anyone dull your sparkle!

Golden Nugget v5.5

"Sometimes when a tiny series of the most unpredictable events occur that make no sense at all, something big is about to happen."  The Universe  (Mike Dooley)

Golden Nugget v5.2

"Your task is not to become a leader.  Your task is to become yourself, and to use yourself completely - all your gifts and skills and energies - to make your vision manifest.  You must withhold nothing.  You must, in sum, become the person you started out to be and enjoy the process of becoming." -Warren Bennis, On Becoming A Leader

Golden Nugget v5.1

Don't be afraid of being different.  Be afraid of being the same as everyone else.

Golden Nugget v4.24

"It is ever so much easier to be good if ones clothes are fashionable." -Anne Shirley

Golden Nugget v4.22

"Love isn't a state of perfect caring.  It is an active noun like struggle.  To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now."  -Fred Rogers 

Golden Nugget v4.21

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.  So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.  You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.  This approach has never let me down and it has made all the difference in my life."  - Steve Jobs

Golden Nugget v4.18

Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.

Golden Nugget v4.17

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures for anything.  -Irish proverb

Golden Nugget v4.16

Be brave with your life.

Golden Nugget v4.15

Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life.  Keep the faith.  It will all be worth it in the end.

Golden Nugget v4.14

One of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you can't change.