Knocking down preconceived notions

I’m training myself to ask questions that buck the norm. To see the world from a different perspective. To challenge my current ways of viewing things.

For instance, What if there really is no God and we are actually part of someone’s dream? A bad dream, at that.

What if the government is really a force for good and has only our best interests at heart?

Anyway…

Today, when I stopped into a hair salon I had never visited before, I had already decided to take whatever I got with grace and good humor and learn from the experience.

That isn’t to say I wasn’t a little nervous when I first saw my stylist.

He was a young fellow who looked like he’d be better off skateboarding in Millennium Park. He had a black T-shirt on over jeans. He washed and conditioned my hair in record time and I thought, There is no way he could possibly have rinsed all the soap out.

But he did.

As he worked, he was at first very quiet and his snip-snip-snips seemed tentative. I observed calmly, noting to myself that he was perhaps new in the trade and a little unsure.

Oh well, I thought. If I get a crappy cut I just won’t come back again.

But as he progressed his movements became more sure and the scissors began to glide.

“I haven’t heard that song in ages,” I mentioned as Boney M’s Rasputin came on the radio.

“No kidding,” he replied, and the conversation took off from there.

New haircut and new silky nighty.

As my young stylist performed his magic I learned that he had worked out really hard yesterday and was a little stiff, which is why his first snips were so labored. I loved his pleasant, respectful tone with me and I detected a sweet, gentle soul beneath that black T-shirt.

I was out of there in record time but the cut really didn’t turn out half bad. I took his card when I left and he bid me a cheery goodbye.

I walked away amazed at how far off my first notions were. You really can’t tell a book by its cover.

Oh! And the bonus of the day was stumbling upon a quaint little boutique with silky oriental nighties on sale for $20. I bought three, all in bright colors. I am a happy camper today! :)