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Identity Crisis (March 2, 2010) My oncologist looked compassionately at the long-haired me. He confirmed that my hair would fall out after my first chemo treatment, and he suggested that I may want to get my long hair cut short before I started my protocol. When hair starts to fall out, short hair may be easier to deal with than long hair.
Although I dreaded chemo baldness, I embraced the haircut suggestion. Long hair, BIG hair back in the day of big hair, had been trademarks of my identity. I had no choice but to face the identity crisis that hair loss was about to create. And getting a haircut was an acknowledgement of that crisis and my vulnerability.
A fellow breast cancer survivor and dear friend took me out for lunch and a haircut. Her gift was incalculably comforting! She had been down this road. Her kindness, camaraderie, and understanding strengthened me.
Losing my hair brought about a healthy searching of my soul. And although it was a painful process, I thank God for it. I was dying to my flesh. I exchanged the temporal for the eternal, the physical for the spiritual. And I saw that which could only be seen with eyes of faith.
Who am I, with props stripped away? Appearances change, yet nothing changes! I am a child of God. And I am loved with unfailing love. Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself up for me."
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Survivorship
Comments
It is a sign of STRENGTH, COURAGE, HOPE, and FAITH.
You don't have to worry about the weather messing up your hair.
It is a sign of STRENGTH, COURAGE, HOPE, and FAITH.
You don't have to worry about your grey or your roots showing.
It is a sign of STRENGTH, COURAGE, HOPE, and FAITH.
You can throw on a hat and go. No "fixing" to do. You're ready for whatever!
It is a sign of STRENGTH, COURAGE, HOPE, and FAITH.
You save money on trips to the salon, color, shampoo, conditioner, etc.