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Three times I have grown out my hair then chopped off ten inches. Three times, I have been annoyed by no longer being able to do anything with my hair. I hated, and still do hate, having short hair, especially now that it's suddenly decided it wants to be curly. So why did I cut it off three times, the third time being three months ago, in April? I have three words for you: Locks of Love.
Locks of Love is an organization which makes good-quality wigs with real hair for children who lost their hair due to illness and cannot afford such wigs.
Do I regret cutting off my long, formerly almost straight, hair? Truthfully, yes. Now, I can only wear my hair in a high, preppy
ponytail, because I don't have time to straighten it and it became quite curly, which doesn't suit me.
What I don't regret is my reason for cutting it all off. It's a wonderful feeling, knowing that a sick kid who's bald now has a wig and can hopefully feel more confident, and it's partially because of me. (It takes about six donations to make one wig, according to www.locksoflove.org.) I know that I made a difference in someone's life.
I've never been particularly selfless or generous. Truth be told, I'm not a very giving person at all. I didn't even give my closest friends birthday presents, when they got me wonderful gifts. I've never had that warm, fuzzy feeling one is supposed to get when giving gifts. I've never even felt good, really. But with Locks of Love, it's different. No, I still don't get a warm, fuzzy feeling. But I do get a great feeling. Because I know I'm honestly doing something good. I'm helping someone. I'm making a difference. No matter how small or insignificant it is to the world, I'm making a difference to one person, and that's more than enough for now.
But, you see, I really am a selfish person. I know I am, and I'm ashamed of it. I keep donating because of how it makes ME feel. But I'm working on it. Next time, when I donate my hair in two or three years (I'm absolutely not cutting it this short again, so I'll wait longer. See how selfish I am?) I will do it for the person who will be receiving the wig, not for that great feeling. I'm truthfully not sure why I do it now -- for the person or for me? While I like to think it's for the person, and I can't remember consciously thinking, 'Wow, this is a great feeling. This is why I'll keep donating,' I know that I'm a selfish person, deep down, and I'm probably subconsciously doing it for me.
As to what exactly the point of this article is, I'm unsure. Maybe it's to raise knowledge of Locks of Love. If it is, then I'd like to end with: if you're ever looking for an easy way to make a difference, whatever age you are, call your local hairdresser and ask if they participate in Locks of Love. But I think the real point was to tell you about my selfish selflessness, in which case, here is how I will leave you:
Whatever your reason is for giving something to a person, to your community, for volunteering, for whatever other selfless act you might preform, it really doesn't matter. Either way, you are helping someone or someones, somewhere, in some way. You are making some kind of difference. And that is what truly matters.
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