As a countdown to my 30th birthday on March 18, I’ve committed to offering 30 people, things and experiences I want to celebrate from the last 30 years. Grab a piece of cake and enjoy reading!
Okay, so “baldness” may be a bit misleading. That’s not exactly what I’m celebrating and as a matter of fact I have a very full head of hair. So much so that the hairdresser spends a solid 10 minutes thinning it out at each visit.
But there’s what we might call elective baldness. And that’s where I fit in.
At the tender of age of 16, I chose to shave my head. Primary motivation: why the heck not?!? Secondary motivation: I was feeling a little attached to my beautiful blonde locks. With friends doing nothing short of egging me on one summer’s day, we grabbed the nearest clippers and buzzed it all off.
(At the 1996 Olympic Games)
In my 30 years thus far, I truly consider this to be a dogeared moment. Not only does it make excellent party fodder and put every hairdresser at ease when I request a funky haircut (afterall, if it was shaved once…), but it has altered the way I view myself in significant ways. Importantly, I have been able to experience myself as “okay” when running counter to cultural and even personal expectations.
So I celebrate my 16 year-old-self’s courageous act, knowing that I continue to make similar (though rarely such overtly physical) choices that require much courage. It’s incredibly helpful to have a solid role model!
Tags: celebration, change
Okay, that is freakin’ awesome!
Hey thanks, LeeAnne!
I remember that….You were so brave and such an inspiration for not following the crowd and being true to yourself and who you were and what you wanted to do.
Thanks, Josh! Of course, you were an inspiration, too – taking a girl who’d just shaved her head to the prom.
In part, it’s because of friends like you who also were true to themselves (Janet Jackson! Tommy!) that I continue to do what I want to do.
You’re awesome! Wasn’t it in my parents driveway we did that?? I think we just got back from the pool or something.
You’re exactly right, Heather. I can picture it clearly…
[...] on the Block, who tricked me into telling Andy that I like him and who tortured me endlessly when I shaved my head. This person, quite simply, cannot be Mister [...]