Learning to let go

I’ve been learning a lot lately about growing up, moving forward and learning to listen and question myself.

For a long time I thought that growing up was just an inevitable part of life but I was confusing getting older with growing.

How many of us want to leap and run but stay crouched low for fear of change? How many fear staying put just as much as they fear moving forward?

Currently I think that small steps are the answer; acknowledging the fear and the racing anxiety but still moving your feet forwards; there is only light at the end of the tunnel because you are in the long dark tunnel..

I say all this because my friend recently ‘Braved the shave’. For years she had the most glorious waterfall of thick chestnut hair. It was a part of her identity and then she goes and shaves it off!

This is where the learning to grow comes in; Sure it’s a wonderful thing to raise money for charity but the hair was the thing, letting go of a part of yourself. Understanding that she had been using her hair as a curtain to hide behind was a step forward, cutting it off-shaved no.2 all over, no cute ‘messy bob’ or ‘pixie cut’ was in empathy for all those women and girls who loose their hair unexpectedly through illness or accident but now it’s a reality for my friend.

She had the luxury of choice and her hair will grow back but they don’t call it “Brave the shave’ for nothing! My friend has taken the step forward to remove her ‘comfort blanket’ anxiety and fear were present with her for the whole time as soon as she made the decision to cut off her hair, the fear walked with her every day and anxiety flared up every time someone asked her ‘are you sure?”

And she did it! Fear sat beside her in the barbers chair and watched as a transformation occurred.

Who is the woman I see now? Someone stronger, someone lighter, not just shorn of the weight of her hair but the dead weight of holding on to old ideas and old ways.

She looks amazing!