This made me giggle so hard.
I like to change things up and try new things and sometimes I don’t like the results at all. Like, I really didn’t like my eyebrows or my curls yesterday, but oh well! Those aren’t permanent alterations; I can tolerate a day of not looking comfortably myself! Big deal.
A good reminder to make significant changes to your appearance in increments and not all at once in a big dramatic statement unless you want a WHOOOOOOLE LOTTA attention from your congregation.
Want wild blue hair? Try a few streaks before you go full Manic Panic.
Want to start tattooing yourself? Start with something small. Don’t be Ben Affleck.
If you transform your look slowly, you’ll also be in a better emotional place to respond to the inevitable inquiries and to decide how much you want to disclose about your image evolution. You may choose to be vague and deflect questions or you may decide that your transition is important to share as part of your full flourishing of self as God made you.
I think we have to deal more graciously and with less naivetee and resentment about the fact that, as public leaders in (mostly relatively) small communities, our appearance is going to generate remarks. If you are intentional about your image, you will be in a far better place to respond in a professional manner to such comments.
As I was applying my eyebrows yesterday morning and they turned out really heavy and dark and it was too late to wash them off and apply again, I actually imagined someone saying to someone else, “What is up with Vicki’s EYEBROWS?” And that made me laugh. Unless my sister or mom are coming to my church, I don’t think anyone much notices.