A Smallish Big Change

So, I did this thing.

I am no longer blond. Well, according to the hairdresser I am still a “dark blond”. I’m not sure what you call the color, but I think it’s prettier than what I had going on before. Years of highlighting my hair had made my hair really sad!

I’d been thinking about moving back toward my natural color for several months, mostly because it’s so darn expensive to be fake blond in Ireland! And after so many years as a blond, I started to feel like I was hiding behind it. It’s how I looked when I moved to Ireland, so it sort of became part of my identity – the blond American who married the oldest Westbrooks.

In one of those lightning bolt ideas a few weeks ago, I decided my identity could not rest on my hair color, not even a little bit.

I know, just a tad dramatic. But somehow symbolic of my feelings about this new year: make the change, don’t just think about it. Stop getting paralyzed by logistics and what ifs. Do it, make it happen. Keep trying doors until one opens for you.

Most importantly – don’t live the identity the world gives you. Live the identity you create.

And that is me climbing down off my high horse for the weekend. Ha!

I’m still getting used to this first change, but so far I think I like it.

Anyone else make a smallish big change in their lives lately? I know it’s a common January-blues coping mechanism, so I must not be the only one!