I was reading a blog post written by one of my friends on Alopecia World about how much she is enjoying her new bald glory. This caused me to reflect on how much I love my head. Nants wrote of how wonderful it felt to shave off her remaining hairs and not worry about counting the number of hairs remaining or fretting about how many more had fallen out during the course of the day (http://www.alopeciaworld.com/profiles/blogs/free-at-last and http://www.alopeciaworld.com/profiles/blogs/i-love-being-bald). I vividly remember the evening Momma shaved my head for me – how wonderful it felt to literally laugh in AA’s face and tell it to “suck it!” How alive and powerful I felt to be regaining some control. I refused to let AA dictate how many hairs were going to fall out and I would have to see on my pillow, my shower floor, my hair brush, the inside of a hat, or in my hands. I took back my control over my body. I no longer gave the power to AA, and that is one of the best feelings in the world!
I have come to discover that bald is beautiful in an unearthly way. It reminds me of small babies and how innocent and beautiful they are. I am reminded that the human body is beautiful in the simplest ways. How a bald head is beautiful in it’s uniqueness.
The next time you notice a man, a woman, or a child without any hair on his/her noggin appreciate the beauty. Don’t concentrate on whether or not he/she hase cancer or alopecia or any other number of conditions which can cause hairloss. Instead take the moment to appreciate his/her courage and beauty; appreciate the little reminder that has been placed in front of you that beauty comes in all packages and can be seen anywhere you choose to find it. Beauty is not necessarily what is prescribed in People magazine or on America’s Next Top Model, but something that can be seen everyday in the most ordinary of places.
I just found this blog and I really enjoy your writings. I too have alopecia and so does my little sister; I have a “mild case–no head hair, but eyebrows, lashes, and very little body hair, and she has total alopecia. Growing up with alopecia in my hometown was really hard. When I was young, the kids always gravitated away from me. In high school, sports were always kind a touch and go because sometimes I looked like I was in a gang and had lots of discrimination. Now I’m on my journey in college and have met the most wonderful guy–and he doesn’t even care whether I have hair or not! I never thought I’d see the day that would happen, nor meet this fabulous guy. I imagine my wedding day and it’s hard to think about not being the “perfect bride” with a beautiful updo.
I just wanted to say thanks! ^_^