Are you being heard?

As a child, my mother always took me to the same place to get my haircut. It was conveniently located, affordable, and the two hairdressers that worked there were very friendly and fast. While it did have many positive attributes, there was one serious downside for me—they couldn’t understand what I was saying. I tried my best to communicate with them using hand gestures to help illustrate my request. It never worked—I always came back with the same haircut. Sometimes it was a little shorter than others, and sometimes way too short, but it was always straight all the way across. If it looked good, it would have been great, but it didn’t look great —I hated it. 

After getting another one of those dreaded haircuts, I decided to take matters into my own hands. It was time to cut my own hair. I set up mirrors all around me me so I could see the back of my head. If you’re cringing right now, it didn’t turn out half as bad as you’re imagining. My amateur haircut looked surprisingly decent.

After realizing what I had done, my mother decided it was time to try a different hairdresser next time. It wasn’t fancy, but it was perfect for me. I recall the first time I went in and my hairdresser asked what I wanted. She asked follow-up questions and summarized her goal. I had found someone who listened to me. 

If you’re currently seeking help from someone that is unable or unwilling to understand what you’re looking for, feel free to look for a better fit.  

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a safe and healthy week.