Day Two: Facing the mirror

I got up this morning.  It was actually before noon and thus still morning.  I had a pretty restless night last night.  I am not sure if it was the pain of my newly injuried knee or weird dreams.  I didn't even lay down for sleep till early this morning around 4am.  I am a night owl.  So it's after 11am and I am starting my day.  Not exactly turning over a complete new leaf but I did take my mornings meds with a 6oz glass of water.(see challenge number one).  I am moving forward at a snails pace but at least I am no longer still just thinking about it. I am moving.

Then I get to the bathroom mirror.  I don't look so bad in there.  It definately is not a bad hair day.  I notice that my hair has found a new part.  It's on the right instead of the left.  Hey it doesn't even look so bad.  It's an unexpected but yet pleasant new do for me.  For my nieces wedding a couple weeks ago I got highlights for the first time in a decade.  So looking at them with this new part I realize I now appear blonder than I thought the highlights would leave my dark brown hair.  I know the stylist didnt highlight my hair to be worn with this happenstance part but it looks okay and I decide to leave my hair to it's own sorts today because it looks alright.

My life has been alot like my part.  I have been just going with whatever part happened to be there.  I haven't taken any time to comb it, tease it, or hairspray it.  I've been wearing my life the way it is without trying to make it any better, make any changes or even just deal with it.  Look what that has gotten me.

Two hours later I returned to the bathroom to find my part has returned to it's place on the left side of my head.  I hadn't brushed it or combed it there.  Maybe it was when I was doing my household chores, did I without thought run my fingers thru my hair?  Was it when a gust of wind hit me as I crossed the lawn for the mail?  Without any thought or action from me my hair returned to it's set pattern.   It leaves me wondering if the changes I make now do the same.  If I just let these small changes happen they will.

What it would of taken for my hair to stay with a new part.  A little mousse, a little teasing , alot of hairspray?  I needed to return to the mirror over and over again and keep checking on it.  Perhaps spraying and teasing a little more to keep my new hairdo in place.

That's the kind of dedication these changes will need to have.  There will be times that I go back to the old and familiar and have to start again.  But I think I am ready even if my hair isnt.

 Thirty five years ago, at my wedding shower I got a gift from my mother in law to be. It was a dresser set.  It was 1976 but believe me not too many people were giving out dressser sets for gifts.  A dresser set was a mirror with matching comb and brush to set on your dressing table.  I don't know anyone who uses a dressing table but I guess my mother law thought I should be and so presented me with this lovely mirror set.
I am pretty sure it was the fanciest mirror, comb and brush I would ever own.  It reminded me of something that a Princess like Sleeping Beauty or Rapunzel might of used in fairy tale days.  Not the gift for a modern young woman like me.  But the card that was enclosed with the gift was the gift it self.   It read simply.

"Use this comb to untangle life's troubles.
Use this brush (maybe even on a little behind) when the comb isn't enough.
and remember to use the mirror everyday to see just how blessed you are."

I don't remember if the comb ever made it thru my hair.  I know I never used the ivory handled brush to spank my children.(although I confess in those days the wooden spoon saw a little action.)  Somewhere along the way I stopped looking into the mirror and remembering how blessed I was.

But it's  not too late.  Where is that mirror anyway?  I am ready to look now.

Always Trish

Challenge Two:  Look in the mirror and find one blessing to be thankful for.