Going Natural and acceptance.

I was just thinking about all the times i had tried to go natural and the reasons I had failed....and it has brought me to realize something. When going natural it is important to be strong, know the reason for what your doing and be strong in your decision.

I have tried to go natural several times. The first time I was 18. I had done the big chop after sporting loc extensions for a month. My friends and family laughed at me and said I was crazy. My boyfriend at the time had a sour face towards it.Everyone complained about how better I had looked with hair and asked what the hell I was going to do with it in the state that it was in when I am going out. I felt very depressed and unattractive, until i dyed it blonde. This comfort only lasted awhile though, because I had a "friend" who would constantly tell me how crazy she thinks I am for cutting my hair and kept telling me I was going to relax again soon when I regret going natural. She was right in some way. I broke under the pressure and got a texturizer, which eventually turned into a relaxer. I did this in the hope of being accepted again..and I was. But I did not feel good in myself, because I still wanted to be "naturally me". I wished I could be accepted for who I am and how I was born.Not as what everyone else expected of me and were willing to accept.

I went natural again about 6 months after that, and stayed natural for a year. Creamed again due to lack of knowledge on how to take care of my hair and the same acceptance issue.

It has now been 11 months since my last big chop. I texlaxed my hair last month due to frustration and impatience with fairy knots. But this time I am confident about what I want to achieve and am willing to go through any struggles I may face to get it. Pleasing people is not always the best choice. Especially when it comes to your own image. Go for what YOU WANT and not what they expect. Because in the end if you want it bad enough, you will always go back to it. Not being accepted is just a hurdle to cross. Do not let it be a set back like I did.
Funny enough the people who were my set backs in my hair journey are now no longer in my life. Just the way they reacted to my choice was a peek at what they really were to me. My family have now come to accept my choice, because they love me. But if someone or some persons are continuously criticizing your choice..they mean you no good anyway. Only you hold the key to your dreams, so you determine what doors you want to enter.