I Cut My Long Hair, Met Mickey Mouse & Got Baptized
A reflection on a week of life in the fast lane.
I think it was about six inches of hair that my stylist happily cut off last Friday. For my long hair girls, you know it’s a long thought out decision to cut your hair. You think on it and think on it and then one day you walk into the salon and say “Do it.” Rachel had that cape on me and her shears slicing through my hair in 3-seconds flat. The hair decision came a week before the one-year anniversary of my mom’s death and while I’m unsure if mama’s passing had anything to do with the hair cutting, I do know that I felt stronger [and lighter] when I left Rachel’s chair.
I have a Facebook group for hair and humor. Ladies, you’re welcome to stop by HERE and laugh a little with us.
On Saturday, my husband and I visited lovely friends of ours at the lake during their camping trip and my husband surprised us by waterskiing! He hasn’t skied since 1997 and he’s 55 years old. While he was up on those skis, I had a rush of gratitude for life, for the sun shining down on us, and for my new haircut. It’s the little and surprising things sometimes that give you the most joy. Plus, I knew my husband Chris was proud of himself!
Come Monday, Chris and I loaded up our pup Baby to spend the week with my daughter and we set out for Disney World. I have never been to Disney and you couldn’t tell me anything! I was smiling from ear to ear from the moment the wheels hit the road to when we rolled up at the resort. When I met Mickey Mouse and rode the teacups and the Dumbo ride, I kept pinching myself that I was actually there! You see, I might be 47 years old, but for the first time, I am letting go and allowing myself to absorb all of God’s goodness that lives inside of gratitude and our experiences. When we stood in front of Cinderella’s castle during the fireworks, my mind went to mama and her laugh. She was a giant child [most of the time] and this childlikeness made her hyperaware of wonderment. I think I inherited this quality. :)
While on the ride home, I made a firm decision about my mentoring business, allowing myself to dream and to act on these dreams. It felt good to be free and to know that inside of this freedom, I will be helping mentor women to feel the same. When I got home, I immediately finished up a 4-week workshop series for women, with the first week’s workbook free. Get it HERE.
On Saturday, my family and I got together for some good country cookin’ at Lynn & Bob’s in Swainsboro, Georgia. Man, that fried chicken was delicious! Then, we wrote messages on balloons and released them at Mama’s grave. Once again, gratitude filled my heart to have all of my family there, one sister singing a beautiful song to honor mama, and each of us saying memories about our matriarch. Surprisingly, I didn’t cry like I thought I would; instead, I felt called to be a light for others and to keep laughing more like mama would want us to do.
On the ride home from a day remembering mama, I told my husband “I feel overstimulated, like life is too much, too fast lately. Know what I mean? He gave a slight nod and a sniffle. He knew too, having lost his dad four months after mama left us.
Sunday morning came and I was nervous. Actually, if you’re reading this today, July 23, then you’re in real time as this photo was taken today. I was baptized. During the baptism, I was trying to focus on how I would keep water out of my nose since I have to hold my nose when dunking my head back and I spotted a spider on the wall across from the baptismal pool. Water did go up my nose, but the spider stayed put. I’m grateful for that.
And, I’m grateful for this one life. While it comes with abundant hardships, it also comes with abundant opportunities to live in gratitude. You get the choice to which one you live by.
Find me on Instagram or email me at allthrivecollective@gmail.com to get plugged into mentoring by me, Mary Alice. :)