Beauty/ Fashion

Moving Forward.

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I’ve ALWAYS wanted long hair… that’s putting it lightly. Remember Rapunzel? She was my hero! When I was in High School I joined a gym with one of my good friends. As we continued to work out and the weeks rolled by, my friend began to notice differences in her figure. She’d gaze into the big mirrors near the machines and turn to the side to admire her progress. And I’d turn to the side, too. I’d lean my head back and check out my hair to see if it got any longer. Not even kidding.

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Every time I came home from college, my high school friends would see me and tell me how much longer my hair had gotten. By the 3rd or 4th visit, I realized they were only saying that because they knew it made me happy (truly good friends). But in all actuality, my hair hardly grew at all. 

The thing is, the ends were SO dead and brittle because I had refused to get hair cuts for years. I tried hair growing vitamins, no heat, skipping a night between shampoos and weird creams to make your hair grow… Nothin’… So, for Christmas my sophomore year of college I decided to get extensions. It was my one big gift. After all, it was REAL hair… But it wasn’t really mine. :/ I wanted long hair SO bad.

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So, you ask, why would someone who has wanted long hair her whole life, be willing to cut hers? A few reasons. For one, the ends were seriously splitting… I had inches of split ends. Yikes. But more than that, I knew that if I cut my hair (not just a trim, but a whole new style) I’d be letting go of the past and embracing change. I’d be letting go of years of expectation and vain pursuits. Maybe that sounds ‘too deep’ for a haircut, but trust me that’s the way I think. I strongly believe that we are holistic beings… it’s why what I eat effects how I feel. It’s why a positive mental and emotional outlook helps to create a healthy body. We ARE mind, body, soul and spirt.

That means something as simple and tangible as a haircut has a much deeper emotional meaning behind it. For me, it means stepping outside of my comfort zone, learning to embrace change and break free from routine and expectations. As I ‘grow up’ and begin to step into adulthood I’m starting to see myself as an independent, responsible, passionate and hard-working woman. Cutting my hair, as trivial as it may sound, reflects that. It means moving forward, taking myself seriously and believing in myself. 

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I keep telling my friends, “new hair, new me!” And while I haven’t really changed, I like to use my haircut as an excuse to mix things up, to think outside the box, to pursue my dreams and believe in who I’m meant to be. It may be scary, but trust me, stepping outside your comfort zone can be seriously rewarding!  

How about you? How do you embrace change? When was the last time you cut your hair?

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25 Comments

  • Reply Sarah @ BucketListTummy

    I completely agree with you – a new look can sometimes change our overall attitude and let us start anew, if that’s what we’re seeking. Your hair looks great! Are you out near Providence in these pictures? I’m from RI 🙂

    February 29, 2016 at 1:37 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      YES! Yay for positive changes! …and thank you so much Sarah!! …yes!! These were taken in Prov!! <3 Such a small world!! 🙂

      March 2, 2016 at 5:46 pm
  • Reply lucie

    I always feel so fresh and alive and truly like I’ve started ‘a fresh’ once Ive had my hair cut. This style truly suits you and I hope it marks something beautiful x

    February 29, 2016 at 5:45 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Lucie!! It does mark a new beginning of embracing change and breaking free from my comfort zone!!
      xoxo Cailee!

      March 2, 2016 at 5:44 pm
  • Reply Gretchen | Gretchruns

    I absolutely love your haircut! It looks so great on you. There’s a lot of changes happening in my life lately and I feel like I need a new look to go along with it 🙂

    February 29, 2016 at 6:45 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Gretchen!! You’re so sweet!! And yay for positive changes! I love your hair now btw! But I know you’ll look great with whatever style you decide on! <3

      March 2, 2016 at 5:44 pm
  • Reply Kate

    I think short hair makes you look more mature, in a good way! Very nice!
    I am trying to grow my hair out but it is taking soooo long.

    March 1, 2016 at 1:12 am
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Kate! That’s exactly what I want! hehe, I’ve been told (multiple times) that I look like I’m 16, so I was hoping my hair cut made me look more like an adult! <3

      March 2, 2016 at 5:43 pm
  • Reply Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me

    What a huge leap, and I think it looks INCREDIBLE! You are one stunning girl, and I think this takes so much courage. You are brave.

    March 1, 2016 at 1:35 am
    • Reply Cailee

      Awwww! Julia you’re SO kind!! Thanks love <3

      March 2, 2016 at 5:42 pm
  • Reply Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen

    Wow! You look gorgeous in new haircut. Short hair suits you!

    March 1, 2016 at 9:27 am
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Anu!! You’re SO sweet! <3 Hope that you're having a great week!

      March 2, 2016 at 5:41 pm
  • Reply Evi @ greenevi

    You look absolutely gorgeous! Love this new haircut!
    I know it sounds lame, but I sometimes also feel I am too attached to hairstyles. I was obsessed with growing my hair a while ago and it felt so good when I could break free and cut it. Yay for short hair!

    March 1, 2016 at 1:07 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks so much Evi!! <3 And I hear ya! I was SO attached to my hair for years! But then, I was like... I'm changing, I need a haircut to symbolize that! Hehe 🙂

      March 2, 2016 at 5:40 pm
  • Reply Beverley @ BORNTOSWEAT

    awwww that was such a cute story about looking in the mirror to check your hair! i think you look gorgeous and that hair length definitely suits you 🙂
    I am ALL for change, even for the few days it makes me feel uncomfortable. I think discomfort can be a good thing in life, because it pushes you outside of your normal, everyday routine.

    March 1, 2016 at 4:37 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thank you so much Beverley! …and I completely agree… change can be hard, but I’m learning to LOVE it! Hope that you’re having a great day!
      xoxo Cailee!

      March 2, 2016 at 5:37 pm
  • Reply Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness

    I love your haircut, Cailee! I love the symbolism that you’re attributing to it too.

    I go through stages of wanting long hair – growing it out super long – then cutting it all off and donating it. Right now it’s getting pretty long & at the moment I’m liking it… Who knows how I’ll feel in a week though! And I do enjoy chopping it off and donating it to make a wig for someone that needs it.

    March 2, 2016 at 5:01 am
    • Reply Cailee

      Haha, you are SO cute Nicole!! Thanks so much! That is so sweet that you donate it! …also, your long hair is BEAUTIFUL! So I can see why you love it! <3

      March 2, 2016 at 5:38 pm
  • Reply Rach @ This Italian Family

    I love this hair cut on you! It looks so amazing and makes me miss my short hair. For years I would grow my hair out every year and cut off 10 inches to donate and then start the process over. I stopped cutting it the year we went to Italy for our anniversary because I wanted long hair for our photos (which kind of backfired on me since all my hair stuff was in the bag that got lost, ha!). Anyway, I kept thinking I would cut my hair, but so far it hasn’t happened. I think because I know that I probably won’t grow my hair out really long again so it feels like once I cut it, it’ll be gone for good. Anyway, I totally get over thinking hair. And I love that you are able to let go of your expectations and old wishes with this hair cut. Plus, it looks great on you too! So that’s all the better. 🙂

    March 2, 2016 at 7:36 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Awww! Thanks Rach!! You’re so sweet! And I’m sorry you lost your bag of hair care products!! But I bet the pictures were worth it!! <3 Long hair looks SO good on you! ...then again so would short! Either way you're a stunnahhhh <3 <3

      March 11, 2016 at 7:01 pm
  • Reply rachel @ athleticavocado

    Love this post! Sometimes you gotta embrace change by doing something dramatic. Love your hair cut!

    March 2, 2016 at 11:27 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Rachel!! And YES! Yay for embracing change and moving forward!! <3

      March 11, 2016 at 6:59 pm
  • Reply Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness

    My hair has always been long. I actually just got my hair cut: 6 inches off, and my hair is still longer that yours! I am such a chicken! I feel like I can never go shorter than my shoulders. It is always at least 2-3 inches longer than that. Your hair looks great! Maybe I should change it up and cut it really short!

    March 6, 2016 at 3:10 am
    • Reply Cailee

      Awww! Thanks Cathleen! And I was scared too! I cut off like 6 inches… but not very good inches! The bottom of my hair was SO thin and fried from the heat I use on it :/

      March 11, 2016 at 6:59 pm
  • Reply Julie @ Running in a Skirt

    I love your new haircut! It looks wonderful on you.
    I always had super long hair growing up, but needed a better TV haircut to get a job out of college. My college senior year I cut my waist length hair to my shoulders. I honestly never really liked it (got lots of jobs though!) and have been so happy to grow it out a little more in recent years since I don’t have anyone telling me how to fix more hair anymore. It’s at my happy length now :-)))
    Change is good though!!! I love you cut!

    March 25, 2016 at 8:10 pm
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