new thread
I'm not understanding some posts recently...
There are some that say that growing long hair is a "transformation", "the way you think will change", "you will feel differently", etc..
I agree that your looks will change. But so does putting on a suit if you usually don't wear one (or vise versa). But it doesn't change who I am. And it surely doesn't change the way I think.
My hair is a couple of inches above my waist. I am the same person I was with short hair. The only thing that has changed is that I'm a little older (and hopefully a little wiser).
Well, that all depends on the individual, of course.
Speaking for myself, I can say that it created a major change
in the way I felt about myself. Even my thinking changed.
Being a Longhair definitely affects some people in almost EVERY aspect of their lives.
Whether out in public or home alone...I can NEVER forget that I am a longhaired guy.
And the world does react differently towards me.: I notice it
ALL THE TIME! Some people avoid me, while others seem 'overly polite'.
Let's face it, to some people we ARE exotic creatures that they
think need to be 'understood' or 'interpreted' somehow.
Many folks tend to FANTASIZE about the sligjtest things. They see
a man with LONG HAIR and begin to wonder WHY he is wearing it long...
and HOW did he get it that way.
They sometimes wonder about your 'lifestyle' and everything in between.
I am NOT exotic...but I am definitely 'different' and not
like just another short-haired man.
Longhaired guys ARE different...but (as with everything else) in various degrees.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts on the matter.
I'm not sure if its guaranteed to change the way you think or feel about yourself. But for me, growing my hair has been a very liberating experience, especially as I held back from growing my hair for 16 years of my life because I was worried what other people would think of me.
I guess the closest thing I can compare it to is "Coming Out". Its an enormous sense of relief to discover that although you feared so many people will judge you for been a long hair, they didn't, and many are actually supportive and very positive.
Of course not everyone is supportive, so you have to deal with the biggots and the people that resent your self-expression, and doing so helps you build character and self esteme.
As it takes atleast two years to grow long hair, it also teaches you patience, particularly as you go through the awkward stages. So there are several life lessons to be learnt by growing out your hair, I think this promotes the changes in people that Luckskind and others describe.
you are the sum total of all your experiences and as new things happen each day you change a little.
growing long hair can precipitate a change in how some people react toward you. if a person with long hair is dealing with negativity that he hadn't encountered wearing a more traditional 'do then the different energy can't help but change him. perhaps the act of growing long hair doesn't change a person but other things resulting from that decision will.