Haircut
Haircut
by Tanner Olson
writtentospeak.com
“How would you like your haircut?” asked the hair stylist.
I never know how to answer this question.
I told myself before I arrived that I would know what to say, but I don’t.
“Uhh, can you just make me look like I have it all together?” I said as I stared at my shaggy hair in the mirror.
“Sure can,” she said with confidence.
I smiled and she grabbed the comb, spinning me away from the mirror.
I tapped my foot on the chair as she combed out my hair.
The shop was playing all my favorite songs from the early 2000s.
My Friends Over You by New Found Glory.
Sugar, We’re Going Down by Fall Out Boy.
The Best of Me by The Starting Line.
And my all-time favorite, Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard.
I’m at the age where my peers get to control what comes out of the speakers in public places. Everyone in the shop looks like they attended Warped Tour and can list for you all of blink-182’s albums. I felt at home.
I was just getting comfortable when I heard the hair stylist say something that stopped my foot from tapping.
“It’s not looking the way I want it to look.”
“That’s a theme for my life,” I almost said, but didn’t.
I didn’t want to bring down the mood with that kind of comment.
She seemed frustrated with herself and I assured it was okay, that it’s just hair.
She continued to cut and I went back to tapping my foot to the beat of the pop-punk music.
I wasn’t phased by her concern for my hair. I’ve had plenty of bad haircuts in my life and have survived every single one of them. Once a guy sliced open the top of my ear. Blood ran down my neck and I almost passed out. Another time a barber misunderstood me when I asked for a trim and ended up shaving my head. I looked like Demi Moore in G.I. Jane. To this day I’m still not sure how this happened. A few years back, right before the pandemic, I had a stylist accidentally cut off a mole on my neck. Once again, more blood, but the haircut was free.
The thought that ran through my mind is true. Life isn’t looking the way I thought it would look. For most of us, life has not gone how we planned. We dream of getting a trim and wake up with a shaved head. Don’t get me wrong, life is not bad, but it’s not what I asked God for. There are circles that have yet to be closed, prayers that are waiting to be answered, and photos that haven’t yet been taken.
Through it all, I’m beginning to trust that growth happens even in the unknown. When I fall asleep at night I take a deep breath knowing that change is coming and good is coming along with it. Those who are wiser than me say that God’s timing is perfect. There are days when I want to tell them that the truth isn’t always helpful. But, deep down I know they are right. God’s timing is perfect, even if it doesn’t match my timeline.
A few moments later the stylist blurted out, “Finally! It’s starting to shape up.”
Sometimes it just takes a little time.
Sometimes it just takes a little trying.
Sometimes it just takes a little patience.
Life isn’t looking the way I want it to look, but it’s beginning to shape up.
“There,” She said, “what do you think?”
“It looks like I have it all together. Thank you.”
With hope,
Tanner Olson
@writtentospeak
About the Author
Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.
He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.
You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.
His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.
Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.
You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.
Tanner Olson wearing a Written to Wear t-shirt. grab one here: writtentowear.com