Original Posting:02/03/2016

When I returned to my former, short-haired glory a few weeks ago, I never imagined that I would be constantly questioned as to why I cut my hair. People have asked “why” nearly as often as strangers have mispronounced my new name. “Kesha” is still my favorite one to date. For those who have known me more than three and a half years, the total lifespan of my longer hair, the cut was simply an expected return. But to others, apparently, there is some sort of life-changing decision involved. Well, at least if you are a woman.

I don’t remember ever hearing a colleague or friend ask any man why he has cut his hair. In fact, one of my students with shoulder-length hair walked in to class with a buzz cut this morning, and no one even commented, let alone asked why. If he was, would he feel obligated to answer?

Whether or not I believe I should answer or not, I do. Without explanation or validation, I began to simply say, “I can only care for one me at a time.”

Taking care of my hair was a full-time job. To do it properly, which is how I grew so much so fast, I had to follow a regimen that took roughly two hours to complete. Each day. Loving my natural hair had been such a journey to self-love, I even began to blog about it (http://kinkyandcurly.blogspot.com/). The goal was to track my natural hair journey and post tips and tricks along the way. I didn’t maintain the blog, but I did grow my hair for three and a half years

But then, MS came knocking at my door. I had to put every scrap of energy I had left after caring for my menagerie of animals, four sons, husband, and 120 students toward soothing and suppressing an autoimmune disease intent on damaging my white matter and fucking with my verbage (Sorry, Kathy Thompson. It fit!) Something had to give, and my locks were the sacrificial lamb offered to appease the Goddess of Getting Ready Faster in the Morning and the God of Far Easier to Take Care of.

Plus, I am not defined by my hair. Or my skin color. Or a disease with no cause or cure.

I am defined by who I choose to be: a better person than I was yesterday, but not as great as I will be tomorrow. Namaste.

#ms #aubagio #headaches #cardiologist