The Question Everyone Is Asking.

I know all of you (if you haven't already) want to ask me the infamous question: "Why did you dread you hair?" And I'm finally going to give everyone the real answer.

My typical answer to this question is usually something like "I've always wanted to." or something along that line. And thats true. I have always wanted dreads. I don't know when the urge started but after my friend Kate had hers and I got to experience them up close, I wanted them. I knew one day I would have them. They are just magnetic to me. I'm instantly drawn in to them, wanting to touch them and just oogle all their goodness! In fact I would've had dreads in high school but unfortunately I could never find anyone willing to help put them in.

I've always been a person who believes that you should be who you are regardless of what others think. This philosophy is easier said than done sometimes. As humans we naturally seek acceptance. And these days its a survival skill for some. I've always been, well, different. I've never found that nitche. You know that groove that everyone seems to fit into in life. I, no matter where I am and trust me I've been to a few places, always seem to stick out. I find friends and get a long with people but even those that befriend me can vouche for the fact that I am different. This difference has been apparent my whole life. Even as a young child I remember that I wasn't like the other kids. I seemed to think differently. Act differently. Almost function differently. Over the years I've grown accoustomed to this. In fact I now embrace it. I know that I am different! But for a while I found myself seeking that acceptance of others. I was at a crossroads in my life and things were rapidly changing. As a result I lost a little confidence in myself and found myself becoming someone I never wanted to be.

After leaving my job and reevallutating my life path I have come to this: There comes a point in life where you should stop caring what others think. It should no longer matter if they like you because they don't matter. You should like you. Those that are in your life for the right reasons like you. I no longer want to care what others think. I want to be me. I want to be 100% me despite the situation I find myself in! I don't want to be a cookie cutter of what someone else thinks I should be. And with this realization came the choice to dread my hair. It was time. After living in the world being someone I wasn't it was time to take a drastic leap back the other way.

My dreads are not just a hairstyle. They are a promise to myself. A promise that I will never again loose myself or try and be someone I'm not, and I will work everyday to be a little more honest with myself. I am who I am. I am not going to change to be someone else to please anyone. I am different and my dreads remind me of that everyday.