Me with braids in 2023

It’s A New Season

This entry is a continuation of sharing my “Lessons and Revelations” blog posts from 2023, when I chronicled my transition from the Midwest to the Low Country. Currently in a similar transition, I’ve been reflecting on my words and want to share them with you.

It’s a new season, it’s a new day.

A fresh anointing is flowing my way.

It's a season of power and prosperity.

It's a new season coming to me.

Lyrics from “It’s a New Season”, by Israel Houghton

A few weeks ago, I had my hair braided.

The struggle with my hair started when my barber decided on another career path. I was stuck.

I began taking Nutrafol hair vitamins, and my hair started to grow and strengthen. I’ve spent likely hundreds of dollars on hair products, but I wasn’t aways consistent in getting the look I wanted. As I kept admiring the braided styles of relatives and friends, I decided braiding my hair was an option for me to explore.

A trusted lady from church referred me to a stylist who was experienced in braiding the hair of alopecia clients. I made an appointment. Six hours after entering the salon, I walked out with more hair than I have ever had. Braids were down my back and ended at my waist, longer than I had expected. “What am I going to do with all this hair?” I thought. This was new for me.

When I looked at myself, I was unrecognizable and that unsettled me. I was going to call the stylist and have my hair cut shorter, but I waited. Twenty-four hours and many YouTube videos later, I fell in love with my hair and received compliments beyond what I had expected.

The recent gleaning of clothes and household items was a revelation to me. So many of the things I had collected over the years I didn’t feel connected to, and I didn’t see much of it having a place in our new home. Much of it didn’t “fit” and I don’t hold on to stuff for the sake of just having it. My old hair represented narratives and stress that I had refused to take into a new and fresh experience.

Moving can be overwhelming, but I have been here before. I am a witness to how my life has been enriched by simply responding to an urge to live outside of my comfort zone. Living outside my comfort zone and releasing the old began with braiding my hair. It may be something else for you. Getting this new look opened the door to ask myself, “What changes do I need to make as I prepare for life as a permanent resident of South Carolina?” Exploring the options has given me energy and life. I began to see the possibilities of what can be and not sweat the small stuff. It’s time to learn a new skill, revise my resume, read some more books, listen to those with wisdom, and surround myself with positive people.

Don’t get me wrong, there are days I have some anxiety and a feel like I’m going crazy. But I trust in God’s providence. By the look of things, getting my hair braided was the right decision and now I can confidently walk into this next chapter of transition as a primed vessel to receive the blessings that have not yet appeared.