In the summer of 2016, I decided to get a tattoo and dye my hair red on the same day. Bold moves! As I was getting my tattoo done, I spoke with the tattoo artist, as you do. I told him I was nervous about dyeing my hair. And he said something that has sat with me for years since:
It’s just hair!
Why do I find this so profound? Why has it stayed with me all this time? Because it’s so damn true and yet people like me worry so much about every little thing when in actuality…it’s just hair!
This statement is beautiful because it gives you the freedom and power to move past niggling little worries. How often do we stress ourselves out and worry over minor things like hair? It’s laughable. Yes, I know that hair has a huge effect on our confidence. A lousy hairstyle or cut can truly make you feel shoddy. But hair grows back (mostly). You can remove the dye. You can, essentially, undo the mistake if it ends up being one.
This statement, for me, is permission to just do the thing you’re scared of. If it’s something that can be undone or changed, why waste so much time fretting over it? If it’s something you are intrigued by or want or need to do then free yourself from worry and just do it! It’s just hair. It’s just clothes. It’s just a holiday. It’s just a car. It’s just a tattoo. It’s just a YouTube channel.
Again, please don’t misunderstand or think me reckless now! I am not. But I am actively trying to free myself from needless worry. Worry that could be (and usually is) wasted time. Better to do the thing, get the information on whether it works or not, and then move on. Life can be experimental like this. You gain confidence and trust in yourself by being less indecisive and fearful of every decision.
Try something, gain feedback, learn and grow.
For the big things, of course, don’t go crazy. Thinking things through is needed. It’s important. And you must 100% think things through for the things you cannot change, like having a baby! Anything involving a lot of money, or completely changing everything about your life or self needs thinking about. You need to plan. But if it’s something you can substitute into this tattoo artist’s statement, “It’s just X”, then go for it! For as the old, cliched adage goes: life’s too short.
(By the way, I loved the tattoo and the red hair and I had no regrets!)
Sincerely,
S. xx
S. R. Crawford 