The Top 10 Reasons Why I Shaved My Head

10. I've always wanted to be a "hat person".
9. My hair was driving me crazy.
8. I wanted to make a statement. (What statement exactly? Read on...)
7. I suspected I might have a decently-shaped head. (I think I do,  head-dimple and all!)
6. I LOVE rubbing little boys' carpet heads. (Now I have my own!)
5. I've cut my showering time in half, as well as my towel useage.
4. I'd been considering doing it on-and-off for a couple of years now...
3. I was tired of trying to make my hair look ok, and constantly having the kids pull it or mess it up.
2. Long, thick hair is HOT! (not "smokin'-hot", but temperature "hot") AND...
1. It was a physical (drastic, obvious...) act that symbolizes my new beginning!

It's been a week since I took scissors and (10!) razors to my head to take it all off!  I know, most of you think I'm crazy, but that's ok.  I've discovered a lot of things about myself this week, and one is that I don't need any external confirmation to know that I'm ok.  In fact, I know that I'm loved beyond measure, cherished, treasured, and unconditionally accepted by my Father, and that is enough for me.  I have gone to great lengths in the past to try to please people and make them like me, and I hope I've taken another step toward being finished with that.  (Though I am happy if you do like me - I like you, too!)

Surprisingly, I really like my new haircut! :)   My only concern was that people would think I was sick.  I didn't want to make anyone worry, so I always wore a hat when I went out. (Another related concern was sunburn - you've never seen anything as white as my white head, with a lovely red line down the middle where my part had been!)   Well, last night I realized that I was acting like I was ashamed or embarassed by what I had done.  So, in the middle of my walk along one of Port Hawkesbury's busiest streets (which really isn't that busy, but nevertheless...) I whipped off my hat and walked home proudly with my (nearly bald) head held high! AND, I went to church today - hatless.  AND I was asked to lead part of the service, too...  Yes, I received a few shocked/horrified looks (hard to differentiate) and a few barely-holding-back-a-laugh smiles, but I felt really good.  It's part of what this is all about: freedom.  Freedom from my own judgements, freedom from being defined by what others think, freedom from peer pressure (yes, it still exists at my age)...  For me, shaving my head was a personal stance against conforming to the pattern of this world.  I feel that I'm beginning the journey of being transformed by the renewing of my mind, and that this act would always remind me of my choice to do just that. 

That being said, I'm not going to keep on shaving my head.  I may very well keep my hair short for awhile, but I don't need to remain bald to remember my fresh start.  A couple of startling joys: big fat rain pouring down on my head and my sons constantly rubbing it - it's been really fun!  Not to mention the fact that it took my husband 4 days to be able to look at me without laughing...)  I'm glad I did it.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for (drumroll, please...):

The first day

The third day