It is no secret that in the world of cosmetology one meets many interesting personas. As I worked for a salon as a receptionist where I was hired to schedule appointments for the hairdressers, I met some of these interesting personas. The clients ranged from corporate women, coming in during their lunch breaks, to stay- at-home mom who came in with their nannies.
During my times at the salon I developed great relationships with all of the aestheticians. They valued my work and they expressed it to me many times. I was there to book their clients and make sure they were busy throughout the week.I was there to make sure their that their clients felt welcomed and were checked out correctly. I was the face of the salon, the first person that clients saw upon entering the salon.
One day, as I was making calls and confirming appointments, a few clients walked in. One was accompanied by her baby and her nanny. The other was a woman on her lunch break. by the name of Lindsey. Lindsey was a regular who always came in on her break. As she signed my eye caught something sparkling near the side of the list. I looked over and saw the biggest engagement ring I had ever seen in my life. I tried not to stare for too long but was mesmerized by it. Once she was done with her appointment she came to me to check out and pay. My coworker and I complimented her ring.
“Wow, Lindsey he did a great job”, my coworker said.
“It is truly stunning,” I added. “Congratulations.”
Lindsay smiled with gratitude, “Honestly, after eight years of dating, I am glad he did such a good job. I thought the day was never going to come. Every time I am complimented on it, I just want to tell people how long I waited for this and how much I deserve it.”
Just like that, I appreciated being at the salon at that time and not downstairs on the sales floor. Vanity is what I consider superficial. It is based on what is on the outside. For a long time superficial materialistic things were what I believed to be the most important things in life. Yet, through my experience with Lindsey I realized that in order to obtain the things I wanted in life, the things that truly matter, I had to work hard and let time take its course.
I related to Lindsey because like her I have been waiting a while to identify my purpose in life. I waited many years to see how my experiences at school, work, with my family and lovers were suppose to help me on my journey. I wanted to know how my time at the salon would help me grow not just as professional but also as a person in general. I realized that I expected all my experiences to elevate me on a personal level without having to put in much work.
For many years I wondered what my purpose was in life. I grew impatient as I saw my peers graduating, entering graduate school, getting engaged and married. I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I am glad that was an old feeling, which now I also deem as immature. I am living each experience fully because now I am comfortable in the place that I am. I found my happy place which involves being happy in the present, whatever that present may be.
Lindsey helped me see the connection between hard work and rewards. She reminded me that we reap what we sow and that we should be just as proud of our journey as we are of its benefits. I learned to trust the process of time and I reminded myself that everything happens for a reason. I accepted and continue to accept my experiences with open arms because they make such good stories and help me become much more relatable to people.
Many times in our accomplishments the true gift is not the tangible but the intangible. People might see the degrees hanging on your wall, the beauty of an engagement ring and the red bottoms on your feet but they will never see what is important, the journey you took to obtain those things. That is why I valued Lindsey, she was happy about her gorgeous ring but she was more happy about her journey.
