Patience

I always used to roll my eyes when people said that they learned patience when locking their hair. However, it's become a definite part of the locking process for me. I want locks NOW! My hands are in my husbands 2 1/2 year old locks every day. I covet the mid back length dreads I saw on the sister in the grocery store. I drool over pictures in hair albums of fully developed locks of every size, shape, and length. But I must wait and be patient.

I look at my hair, and I can tell it's slowly moving toward what I desire. But it's not happening fast enough, dammit! I know I sound like a baby, but I don't care. And although I like the way my hair looks now (most days, let's be honest here), I don't know anybody that dreaded their hair to have it look like the in-between stage. Some time ago I read on the hair board where someone compared growing locks to growing a full beard. The beginning stage (5 o'clock shadow) looks good, and at the end you have the beard you want, but that in-between, patchy, itchy, unshaped, what-the-hell-am-I-doing-why-is-it-taking-so-long-nobody-likes-beards-anyway-will-i-even-look-good-with-one stage is trying. And some people don't get past that stage (and don't ask me how I know so much about growing a beard).

Or when you're trying to lose weight (which I am). You've changed your diet, you're exercising more, you're doing good. But it's been weeks and you don't see any changes yet. Well maybe you realize that you can climb the stairs without being out of breath, and you lost like 5 pounds, but you want to see more changes on the scale. One or two pounds a week is soooooo slow when you have 30 pounds to lose. And then your husband brings in a 50 pack of cookies from BJ's, and you have to stare at that crap every day when you get in from work. And you know that a cookie or two (at 200 calories a pop) every day would taste soooo good after the stresses of work. Do you give in? Or do you resist, knowing that if you're patient, and continue with what you're doing, you'll soon see the results you want? (Note to hubby: This example is just used for illustrative purposes and comedic effect. Who am I kidding? No, it's not. :-( )

You know what, though. I have made the commitment that I am going to see this through. No matter how I feel about it now, I know that in a year or so, my hair will be completely locked, and I will have the hair I used to admire from afar. I try to remind myself of that whenever I have doubts about the process. Angela, don't get impatient at month 3 or 4 or 7 and cut off your hair. You'd seriously regret that. Don't let the silly little side issues or insecurities distract you. Know what's on the other side: beautiful, unique locks.