Day 28: Accepting yourself--as you are

A few days ago, I received an email from my hairdresser:

"Hey, we miss you around here!" was the gist of the message. It's nice to be wanted. It's one reason why I like going back there, month after month. But my finances have been slim lately, so I've been watching where I'm spending my money. Fancy hair cuts and color have not been it. Besides, what might appear to be haircare neglect has also given my hair a few months to grow out, and I like the length!

It's been two months or so since I've had an appointment with my hairdresser, and, this morning, when I was looking at myself in the mirror while blowdrying my hair, I once again noticed those sparkling streaks. I call them my sparklies, you know, the grays. When they first appear, they look like tiny specks of glitter. I don't mind them. I think they're kinda cool-looking at that stage. Two months into their growth, however, they're starting to look like sparkling streaks of paint...as if I just painted a room in the house and splattered it, instead, all over my head. Only, the streaks are all uniform, and they actually blend in pretty well with my auburn hair. I don't really mind them all.

They're still there because, in light of saving money, I also decided maybe I'll just experiment with this. How long do I want my hair to grow out? How long before the ends need a trim, anyway? And am I really liking those sparkling streaks, or am I just kidding myself?

Looking in the mirror today, contemplating whether I need to make that call to my hairdresser or what, I noticed that I'd stopped looking or seeing the gray in my head. It didn't matter. Whatever I choose to do, I'll do. Meanwhile, I am accepting me just the way I am. Grays and all. But, if you don't mind, I do prefer to call them my sparklies. That makes them more fun.

Do you have a story to share of a moment you came to realize you accept yourself as you are? If so, share it here.