Attitude Is Everything - A Dose of Inspiration

by admin on January 27, 2010

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When I was 23, my outlook on life was colored dramatically by my hair loss “situation.” It all seemed rather bleak, lots of doom and gloom. My coping skills dramatically improved over the years, and I have moved on from praying every single hair would grow back, to just praying for the strength to deal with the hand I’ve been dealt, but that was indeed, a hard road for me to travel.

The other day I was reading through profiles on the network and stumbled across the “About Me” of a 23 year old woman. I was so moved by what a I had read,  I emailed her and asked her permission to re-post it here.

On her profile she had written the following:

I am honest with myself. Yes, I do have hair loss. I talk about it with people instead of ignoring it. The hair loss is there and it’s not going to go away just because I’m wishing or praying. I will be open about it when I meet someone. To some people talking about someone else’s hair loss is like talking about cancer. It shouldn’t be like that. That is why I am open and honest with people. Yes, I have hair loss. Yes, this is who I am. I might be bald by the end of the year but that’s okay. I’ll cry about it, pick myself up off the floor and keep going. Don’t hope and pray for hair. Hope that one day you can love yourself no matter what you look like.

As I re-read that I actually find myself tearing up. So much truth, honestly, self love and acceptance. On the days I find myself feeling low, I think I will remember that, “Don’t hope and pray for hair. Hope that one day you can love yourself no matter what you look like.

I am someone that can certainly attest to the fact that way too much time is lost mourning our hair. I nearly lost a decade of life with my face shoved into a pillow, constantly asking, “Why?” Well I’m here to tell you I don’t have an answer. I’ve done my best to walk a straight line, be a caring person, a good friend, help others, assist homeless animals, and eat my vegetables :) I didn’t “DO” anything wrong, this isn’t some type of morbid punishment from God. It just is. Period. Although I often reflect on that moment at the age of 5 when I told my mom her meatloaf tastes like cat food. Could that be it? I’m kidding obviously.

But I digress.

Be kind to yourself and don’t beat yourself up over your hair loss. Perhaps your time experiencing hair loss will be short lived (hopefully), or perhaps it will be a bit of a longer journey (like myself), either way it’s best to start digging deep and pulling out the big guns of Love and Acceptance.

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Filed under hair loss, hair loss thoughts, womens hair loss

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

1

Charlie 01.27.10 at 7:29 pm

I love this note. This is one of those blogs one should print out and stuff in their pocket to have near them to read everyday.

I love the big guns haha love yes acceptance yes.

2

Melissa 01.27.10 at 9:19 pm

I hope I can take your advice. I had minor hair loss for a few years and it didn’t bother me much until recently when it has become noticable to those around me and people have started commenting on it. It’s really rough . . . . but thank you for helping me to know that this dificult part may eventually ease up.

3

admin 01.28.10 at 9:24 am

@Charlie - Print it out girl! print it out! :) I know you have those big guns.
@Melissa - I can honestly say it does get easier to deal with, we just adapt, we are so much stronger than we actually give ourselves credit for. I am still hoping me to be totally “Free” one day. But I think right now, I’m in a pretty decent place. Why is our identity so tied to are hair? It really shouldn’t be that way, and I think it only is, when we allow it to be. In the words of Oprah Winfrey, “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” When I’m wasting my day on self pity, I try and remind myself that tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us. How horrible should I leave this earth tomorrow and my last days where are self pity, and tears for something I simply cannot control. To the best of my ability I try and work on what I CAN do, and what I CAN be. The rest I guess I have to let go.

xoxo

xoxo

4

Holland 01.29.10 at 11:30 am

I love this post as well. It’s so true. Thanks for sharing.

5

Jennifer Orsi 01.29.10 at 12:47 pm

You know…this lovely lady could of not said it any better…I spent those countless years as well…then, I finally got to acceptance…and boy…when you DECIDE that you are not going to let hairloss…or anything that is out of your control for that matter…control you…it is the most amazing and freeing feeling. That is not to say that I don’t have my days…C’mon…whether we have hairloss or not we find something else to worry or stew about…lol…However…when those days come about…again…I DECIDE how I am going to let it affect me. Unfortunately it is all about choice…easy or tough…that is what it is and once you can make that decision for once and for all and come to acceptance…is when the really truly beautiful things start happening for you and your soul. I could not attest to her About Me anymore as it is totally and completely 100% true!

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