That Time I Cried Over A Haircut…

It might surprise you to know this, but paying for a gym membership and only attending for the first month or so of it’s existence isn’t something exclusive to America.  While I’m not jumping up and down with excitement to share this with you, I must admit to being living proof that it can happen in India as well.

We all know the many excuses that come about when we set out to achieve a goal or make a change in our lives. Whether it be of laziness, busyness or lack of desire and passion, we almost always encounter some sort of opposition. It may seem foolish to some, but in my specific drive to be physically fit and healthy, my hair had become my biggest excuse.

Yes, I did just claim my hair as my most worthy opponent.

So here are some excuses behind the excuse:

• Working out with a mop of hair on your head only helps you sweat more.

• No one wants to wash all that hair every day, especially this guy.

• Showers are most often cold in India, unless you want to bucket shower…no thank you.

• Waiting for my hair to dry can seem inconvenient at times.

 

If anything at all, I am better able to empathize with most of the women out there.

It’s okay if you are thinking, “Big deal, you’re a guy.  Just cut off your hair.”  But if you know me at all, you know my hair has a bit of sentimental value to me.

You see, ever since grade school, I have enjoyed having long hair.  At one point during grade school I was forced (or maybe heavily persuaded, depending on perspective) to get a haircut.  My sister, Carmen, can attest that I cried through the whole thing.  Anyone else?  Maybe it’s just me, but you get the point.  I very much enjoy the freedom of having long hair.  But sometimes the things we enjoy can become a hindrance to our very own growth.

So after nearly 3 years of growing out and enjoying all the things to be enjoyed about having long hair, I cut off what had become my biggest excuse.

A little dramatic, I know.

But did it work?  Yes, it worked!  It’s been 5 weeks since getting rid of my biggest excuse.  And maybe it’s a coincidence that I haven’t missed a workout in 5 weeks, but I think not.

I saw something that was keeping me from making the change I wanted to see happen in my life, and I made a choice to do something about it.  So I ask, what is your goal, and what is keeping you from accomplishing that goal?  What’s your biggest obstacle that you have the power to change, and what are you going to do about it?