Trying to Do the Old Newly

If you’ve followed my journey for a while, you’ve heard me speak of “new beginnings”… Don’t drag the past into the present moment. Step into the here and now newly. Even Hanna says, “Mama, it’s a NEW day!” Yes, sweetie, you are right!

Here’s what haircuts can teach you about change. I got a new ‘do’ last week. I went to someone I had never seen before and quickly sensed she knew what she was doing. She was so brutally honest… “Oh, honey you’re neck is too skinny to go too short. Let’s keep the length just below your chin.”

She asked about highlights.

“Well, I don’t usually do highlights.”

“How about wearing it straight?”

“Nope, usually wear it curly.” (Much less work!)

“Yes, I see that you like the ‘natural look’ “, she sighed, almost wined.

In that moment I knew I needed something new. Two hours later, two inches off, two new highlight colours, and I skipped out of there with a fabulous new ‘do. I couldn’t stop looking at myself in every reflective surface I passed.

“Oh wow, I love your hair!” I heard for two days.

And then it was my turn to style it. Of course, I wore it curly. And it just wasn’t working. The cut took out some of my layers. The next day, I tried to straighten it (without a proper kick-butt straightening iron!) My cowlicks had a heyday.

So what did I conclude? God, this is a bad haircut!

…. like it’s someone else’s fault!

I could see myself pointing at her! Never going to her again!

And just as my finger was jabbing her imaginary tummy, I began to see the wisdom…

You can’t do a new ‘do the old way. It just doesn’t work.

The next day, I bought a straightening iron. And fell in love with my new ‘do. It’s so different and yet so fun! Yesterday a handful of people said, “Wow, you look so different with that look! It’s a fabulous length for you!”

I KNOW!!!

Wisdom for the Journey:

Notice the areas in your life where you are expecting/wanting something new yet going about it the old way — with old beliefs, old habits, and old tools. If we truly want a new experience — if we truly want to keep up with who we are becoming — we gotta be willing to see and do things newly.

The old way just won’t DO!