Say what you think, act how you feel...

Say what you think and act how you feel, because those who matter won't mind, and those who mind don't matter. 

 - Dr. Seuss 

Last week, I was venting about how I like to wear my hair curly, but sometimes feel pressured to wear my hair straight by other people. It just so happened that the very next week, my teacher wrote this exact quote on the board. (She usually writes inspirational quotes on the board every week.)

After I read this quote, I immediately thought about my curly/straight hair dilemma. At first, I thought this quote was true. I thought people who really care about me won't care how I wear my hair. But then I thought about it some more. Now, I disagree with my previous thought. The people who give me the most grief about my hair are the ones who are closest to me and matter the most. I could wear a crazy curly 'fro, and I know for sure that my mom, my dad, my aunt, and my husband (yes I'm calling you out) would certainly comment on my hair. 

"What's with your hair?"

"What's up with the new do?" 

"What are we doing with your hair?" 

"That's an interesting style."

I can hear their voices in my head as I type. Even though I may be acting how I feel by arranging my hair a certain way, the people closest to me may mind...and I kind of like it that way. One of the reasons these people are closest to me is because they are not afraid to "mind" or tell me the truth. 

So while self-expression is important, it is always good to have people to reel you in when you get carried away. And its not that they don't matter, or that they are judging you, but you need people in your life that will help you present your best self. 

 - Stacy Davis, sgrahamhunt@gmail.com