r

(not me, or my hair stylist, but similar to our interaction)

—

while getting my hair cut

i  had a great conversation

with my stylist

who is 20 something-ish

 while i am at least 20 x 3-ish

we shared our stories

she has not had an easy life

one of four children

raised by a single mother

who always worked hard to provide for them

my stylist also worked hard

got her social work degree

wants to go to grad school

before she practices her craft

lives with her loving and supportive boyfriend

yet understands

because of how she grew up

that you always need

to be able to provide for yourself

no matter what

 she learned to do hair as a back-up skill

to use as needed

but her real gift

was her kindness and the way she interacted

as a listener, without judgment

 in telling her own story

with understanding and honesty

obvious compassion

life wisdom beyond her age

lots of laughter, a few tears, and happy smiles later

i had the benefit of a great haircut and therapy at the same time

she will be brilliant in what she does after grad school

and may not realize that she is already a full practitioner.

 

—

“the kindest people do not just exist —

they choose to soften where circumstance has tried to harden them,

they choose to believe in goodness,

because they have seen firsthand why compassion is so necessary.”

– bianc sparacino

 

—

image credit: google images