"Tomorrow I want you to go get pampered..." Those eight words were music to my ears. Simple words that meant so much. Those words spoken by my husband meant he knew I needed time for myself and I in return knew I deserved it. "What is it that I'm going to do?" My husband looked at me sarcastically and told me to get a manicure, pedicure and anything else I needed to make me feel good all at his expense. I felt like I hit the lottery!!! It was then that reality hit me that I would have 2-3 hours of alone time to focus on me. It was during this time I could relax, regroup and reclaim my time.
During the last year, I managed to sneak in some time to get my hair done or a quick eyebrow waxing on my lunch break but I can honestly say it wasn't like my every two week pampering that I was used to. I am a mom, a wife, a new staff member in higher education, business owner, etc etc.. I didn't have time for that. If it wasn't served to me via take out, drive through or simmering in a crock pot, I felt like I just didn't have time for it. Everything had to be timed precisely between my new work schedule, daughter pickups from my mom's or dodging rush hour traffic in Charleston.
As 2017 began turning the last pages of its chapter I had a great epiphany. I knew it all along but I vowed to listen to my heart, my husband, and my gut. I declared that I would carve out time each week simply to take care of me. It could be something big or something small but I was going to take care of me. My husband has done a great job complimenting me when I get dressed on a daily basis or mentioning to our daughter how pretty mommy looked but I honestly think he didn't really understand that waking up every morning at 5 am to make sure I was ahead of him and my daughter was taking a toll on me. I mean, literally in order for me to look like someone I was showering and applying makeup at 5 am before they woke up. Listen, despite Beyonce's song, I didn't "wake up like this."
I made the conscious decision that I would change it up in 2018. It was time to do something a little different for me. I booked Henry Smalls with the O'Salon Charleston to give me a new look. After close to 10 years of having natural hair I decided it was time to relax my hair and do a major cut again. I made an appointment with Kira Middleton, Amplified by Kay and I was ready to walk in 2018 with new goals and a better me. During my appointment, I remembered feeling so overwhelmed with gratitude that I kept thanking them for making me feel pretty. When I arrived home my husband and daughter LOVED my new look. My daughter kept saying "Momma Hair?" I felt so good!!!!!
So in 2018, I'm encouraging all moms, wives, friends to reclaim their time and take time to pamper themselves. Take time to eat that Symphony chocolate bar or to enjoy a glass of wine uninterrupted. Pamper yourself with a bubble bath, spa day or your favorite venti-sized Starbucks drink. You deserve it!!!
