going gray

Everyone knows it is a part of life.  As you grow older your hair grows grayer.  It is mostly unavoidable.  You start to hit middle age and a few stray gray hairs pop up.  Then the grandkids come along and it really starts to show...

Well, that is how you would like to think it happens.  But it isn't true for all people.

My first gray hairs showed up when I was 13.  Yes, you read correctly.  I was 13 when I started to get gray hairs.  By the time I graduated high school I had quite a few.  By the time I got married I had to stripes growing from my part and they were very visible when my hair was down.  Every time I got my hair cut they would mention it, like I didn't know what my own hair looked like.

I am 31 now and this is my hair:

 

Pretty much the entire front of my hair is gray.  It isn't too noticeable if I pull it back in a pony tail but when it is straight this is what you see.

This was me about 2 years ago after I got my hair cut, showing off my gray:

 

I'm sure I will be mostly gray by the time I turn 35.  Yet, I still refuse to color it.  I don't feel I should be ashamed of my hair.  It is just part of who I am.  If people want to laugh or make fun of it that is their problem and shows they have some kind of insecurity because I sure don't have any.  I can't change who I am.  Coloring my hair would hide the gray but it doesn't change that I have it.

Sure, there are some days I look in the mirror and think I look way too old for 31.  But other days I look and thing, "wow, that is just the coolest stripe of gray ever."

A few years ago I was at a family reunion.  I see my mom's family once a year and I always have my hair pulled back because I like it that way.  We were getting ready to leave and I pulled my pony tail out before I said good-bye to one of my cousins.  She gave me a hug, stood back then gasped.  "Your hair," she sputtered.  I just laughed.  "Yeah, started going gray when I was 13, got a lot worse after I had kids."

My aunt laughed along with me.  Then my cousin started laughing, too and said it looked really cool and that she wished she was brave enough to let her gray grow out.  Most of my cousins are older then me.  This particular one was in her 40s at the time.

I'm sure the day will come to pass when I feel the need to color my hair to make myself feel young.  It isn't now.  I have come to terms with who I am.  I'm not out to impress other people.  If they don't like the way I look that is their problem, not mine.  I love my hair, gray and all.