Let me start this post by saying that my great-nephew is being born sometime today (or tomorrow, but I hope for his pretty mama’s sake that it just goes ahead and happens today); it’s so exciting!

Welcome to the world, little guy! You’re already so very loved!

Last night I was Face Timing with my Pops who lives far too far away in sunny Florida, and we were just chatting about what’s up with each of us and we came around to the subject of this blog and what I’ve been writing about.

“Am I to understand,” he asks me, “that you’re letting you gray hair grow out?”

“Yeah!” I chirp, all bubbles and excitement, “It will be a new era! I’ll be authentic! I’ll-”

But he’s already shaking his head- and when he speaks, he delivers some truth.

I’ll share it with you.

“I’ll save you the trouble of growing out your gray- you won’t like it. You won’t feel vital and attractive which are 2 things that at any age you have a right to feel and at your age in particular are more important than you realize. You love your dark hair, and it looks good on you. Wear it as long as you can.”

“But,” I start, persisting on, “I could let the silver grow in and blend it with blonde and-”

He’s shaking his head again.

More truth.

“You aren’t as gray you think- you’re graying like I did” (which I know is true because I got my hair directly from him, color, texture, premature graying) “and you won’t be talking about blending in a little blonde, you’re talking about having to massively lighten the parts that aren’t gray and there is much more of it than you believe. Just maintain your dark hair as long as it makes you feel good; and do whatever makes you feel vital and attractive. Wear your makeup, darken your roots, put on your perfume. These things make women feel their best for a reason- because it’s time you’re taking for yourself to do something you want to do. Take. That. Time.”

Hmmmmm . . . let’s stop and think about how good that advice is.

Adults are so busy getting everything done- working, maintaining our houses, cooking and taking care of our kids that we often feel guilty carving out time for ourselves whether it’s morning gym time, or a mani/pedi, or a few hours to have coffee with a friend, or to have highlights thrown into our hair for summer we often decide that it’s those places where we should cut in order to stretch our days a little, to get more un-fun things accomplished.

Some of that is just adulthood, but is there a part of it that stems from us feeling guilty or vain when we take time to do something nice for ourselves even if that something is a nice, long sweaty bout with the treadmill at the gym to start our day?

I want to think no, but part of it really is.

We’re told that adults that take time for themselves are selfish, but why?

Aren’t we better partners, parents, even friends and employees when we take time to do the things we love every so often?

Doesn’t that make us more satisfied, happier people?

I think so.

So that was the gist; do things that make you happy, big if you have the capability, small if that’s what applies and feel really good about doing it which is something my Pops has always stressed to us.

Whatever you decide to do, go for it and feel good about it.

Until next time!

Love,

The Chick and her Chickadee