I
think my fascination with long hair started when I was about 7 or 8years
old. My Mom insisted that I cut my
hair. I remember someone coming to the house to cut
it. When it was done my Mom took me
outside in the garage to “shake the hair off”.
She made me take my shirt off to get the hair off and “shake it
out”. I remember feeling naked, scared
and not sure of what just happened. Then
several weeks later while at a skating rink a boy approached me and asked the
dreaded question. “Are you a boy or a
girl?” From that moment forward I think
I was destined to have long locks. What
I didn’t realize at the time was that the “long and short” of it all changed and
transformed me. So, Mom, maybe you have
given me a gift of sorts with the desire to have long hair.
Fast
forward to present day. Over the years I
have grown my hair and cut it short at least 4 or 5 times. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but when it
takes about 4 to 5 years to grow your hair long enough to donate, it is a
substantial chunk of a persons life. I
have donated my hair now 3 times. And,
if I had known about hair donation prior to that I am sure it would have been
more.
I
made the appointment to cut my hair a month ago. I needed a date so that I could prepare, get
ready. I almost didn’t do it. Two weeks ago I was ready to call it
off. Every time I looked in the mirror I
saw my best hair ever. I wasn’t sure if
I could do it. My hair had become my
security blanket. Maybe subconsciously I
was pulled to my preteen days of not feeling feminine and not being pretty
enough to “be a girl”. If I cut it,
would I look fat, old, and not as pretty?
I guess we all have hang-ups. As
I contemplated over those few weeks I was reminded of the real reason I was
doing this. It wasn’t really about me,
was it? It was about the gift that I
would give. To give something to someone
that had been through something that I hoped I never would. So, for all of you ladies out there, this is
hair is for you.
As
a matter of fact, I am dedicating this donation to the Jens. Jen Pagani and Jen Landon. Jen Pagani has been fighting an aggressive
form of breast cancer since 2007 and has persevered against the odds. I have known Jen P. for many years and she is
an amazing woman! My friend Jen Landon
was diagnosed in the past year and has been full of treatments and life
changes. She is a gentle and strong
woman. Both of these women inspire me to
be a better person! They live with
thoughts about life that I can’t even fathom.
Thoughts that a wife, mother, sister, daughter would dread
thinking. Life is precious and these 2
women get that and live it! It is
because of them that I said, “Yes, I am doing this!” This isn’t about me, it’s about them. So, to the Jens and the many others that I know
have been affected by breast cancer.
This donation is for you.
More
than likely this will be my last donation.
Long hair and getting gray don’t quite fit. Not that I am gray now (Yes, that’s my true
color at the age of 46), but I know that in the 4 years it will take me to grow
it again I’m not sure it will be what they want.
Today,
I cut 11 inches from my hair. I told Swooz
to make sure there was enough. We even
made 2 ponytails so I would have more to give.
I wanted to “feel the burn”. Feel
the change, the missing piece. My friend
Swooz did an amazing job! After the cut
I was lighter, freer, brighter and had tons of new perspective. So, I am not only giving my hair, but I am vowing
to myself to live a better life! This is
the catalyst to move more, find peace, love more, care about the important
things, eat better , and be more creative … Ok, cutting
my hair won’t make all those things happen, but hopefully every time I look in
the mirror I will be reminded of why it is short and it will encourage me to be
the person I want to be!
So, today I am liberated, inspired and a whole lot lighter!
For more information on my inspirations check out:
Jen Pagani Caring Bridge:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gojengo
Swooz Hair and Makeup Salon
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Swooz-Hair-and-Makeup-Salon/203857056291436?fref=ts
And for a little music inspiration - check out the song "Let Go":
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/vicci/id534247042
