When you let go, you grow

Week 3 | Theme: Letting go | Hairtype: 4a curl pattern

Kadrine's hair type is 4a which means it cooperates, but not all the time. It is curly, wild and free. It demands attention and it is not afraid to take up space by being its best self. Kadrine is much like her hair. She is majoring in International Relations at the University of Windsor. She adores nature, animals and books. 

Kadrine has been growing her natural hair out for a few years now. As her hair grows, she also feels that she is growing as a person. To Kadrine, growth is about moving ahead. "Constant progression is what growth means to me, and it's the most important thing about life. I value growth, I never want to be stagnant or too comfortable until i'm truly satisfied with where I am in life."

Kadrine explains what she likes and dislikes about her hair. "The thing I love most about my natural hair is how protected it makes me feel. My hair makes me feel safe since its so big. Also, how wonderful the curls are, and the softness of it. My hair is a part of my identity and I honestly wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

"The thing I dislike about it is that it can't stay straight--ever. Some days I just want to switch up the look a little, but my hair has other plans. It's fine though, even though it can be stubborn. Some days I could almost swear that my hair has a personality of its own."

Many of us struggle with letting things go. Often we don't want to sacrifice something in order to make room for something else. When people cannot let go of material things, they become hoarders. Similarly, the mind can work the same way as when we don't let go of our negative thoughts they collect until it weighs us down which is unhealthy for the mind and body. Kadrine talks about a time where she let something go, in order to grow. 

"The moment I stopped caring about peoples expectations was the moment I began to excel in life. Peoples expectations of me are pressing because I get too caught up in what people think of me that I stop caring for and nurturing myself. When I discovered that the only way I was ever going to be happy in life was by putting energy into myself and NOT people, I grew exponentially. My creativity reached higher levels, and I began to build on myself. People will always have something to say, especially if they're insecure about themselves. Never let it stop you from being you, there is only one of you and that's the beauty of humanity. Growth comes from dissociating yourself from peoples expectations and judgement based on their insecurities."

Water and sunshine help plants grow, so I asked Kadrine what two things help with her growth. "Knowledge and meditation is growth! Never limit yourself to what you can accomplish and achieve in life. The only barrier is you." Says Kadrine.