For the past few years, I’ve been carrying around something that wasn’t just on my head, but on my mind. I grew my hair long — at first, inspired by an ex-girlfriend who asked me to grow it. She’s been gone for over two years now, but the hair stayed. I told myself I liked it, and in many ways, I did. It reminded me of the 80s and 90s when I rocked long hair in my younger days. Having it again in my 60s felt like reclaiming a piece of myself. But the truth is, I struggled with it.
Why did I keep holding onto it? Most people around me didn’t think it looked good. My co-host, my friends, even a close female friend all gently (and sometimes not so gently) suggested I cut it. But I resisted. Maybe it was pride, maybe it was nostalgia, or maybe it was simply fear — fear of change, fear of admitting that something wasn’t working anymore.
This morning, I finally walked into a high-end salon and put myself in the hands of a professional. I told them my story, sat in the chair, and let it go. The result? A fresh, clean, confident look that felt like I’d shed more than hair. It felt like I’d shed a weight.
And it got me thinking: why do we resist making small, simple changes that could transform our lives? It’s not just hair. It could be long nails that don’t suit us, or short nails when we’d feel better with some length. It could be the belly we complain about, when just a handful of sit-ups each day — or a few better food choices — could make a difference. It could be hair color we’re not happy with, yet never bother to fix.
Sometimes we cling to things not because they serve us, but because they symbolize something — a memory, a comfort zone, a version of ourselves we’re reluctant to let go of. But change, even the simple kind, can unlock confidence, shift our energy, and change how others see us — and how we see ourselves.
For me, this haircut isn’t just about style. It’s about moving forward. It’s about saying goodbye to a look tied to the past, and stepping into a version of myself that’s ready for new connections and possibilities. And yes, I’m hoping it changes my dating outlook too. Because sometimes the simplest changes open the biggest doors.