Thoughts in a Barber Shop

Today I came up with the silliest idea I’ve had in a long time. Right after hearing a nurse complain about how much she had to walk in the hospital, I wondered why they don’t hand out mini-scooters to move around.

The idea is pretty bad considering how small my hospital is, but it’s likely that in much larger ones, it could help the staff who have to move the most through the hallways. Do you know how many varicose veins could be prevented? But I also know that abusing this resource would increase the incidence of overweight among healthcare workers.

Changing the subject, today I had the pleasure of getting a haircut. It had been several weeks since the last time. When I looked in the mirror, I felt a certain disdain toward myself. Every time I went out, I felt uncomfortable, believing that everyone was looking at me and had a bad opinion about my hair, even if unconsciously.

Probably no one was paying attention to me, or maybe they were, and even truly criticizing me. But what does it matter? None of the people I see daily do anything spectacular for me. However, no matter how high our self-esteem is, we always allow a little insecurity in ourselves. As much as I say that what others think of me is irrelevant, the truth is that it does matter to me, at least a little.

If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have gotten this haircut. I have African heritage, and here in my country they’ve always told me that Black people look better with short hair. I like having it a bit long, and I’d even like to have an afro or dreadlocks. But I feel so comfortable and secure with my haircut that I always end up discarding the idea.

See? There it is again—do I care or not what others think? Of course I do. Even though I like my hair when it’s long, that small disapproval I feel when I look in the mirror comes from everything I was told about looking better or not depending on hair length. I always feared that others wouldn’t agree with what I liked.

What is it that makes us disapprove of ourselves instead of supporting each other to fight against what harms us as a society or as a species? That person is pathetic because their shoes aren’t new. Another one is very successful at work, but surely their partner is cheating on them—or the other way around. Dude, you look ridiculous with that orange cap.

Hey buddy :why do you care how I am? Talk to me only to do things that benefit both of us or that benefit many. If you’re not coming for good, you can shut your mouth and mind your own business.

_{English isn't my native language. Text translated with DeepL}

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