In May, I decided to trim my hair shorter than usual and went REALLY short ... sort of an accident around the ears that had to be blended out. The day after cutting it drastically short and feeling very self conscious, I was pumping gas when a woman yelled over "I love your short hair!" "Thank you for that; it's a bit shorter than I anticipated." "Yes, that can happen," she quipped. When I repeated the compliment to a friend on Zoom she chuckled and asked "was she a lesbian?"
I was somewhat speechless, but responded to the situation from the factual observation that "I don't know but she was with a man." Weeks later, that question/reaction and my lack of ability to respond has come to mind again and again. Even (or especially) when this comes from someone we know loves us ... how do we respond to something that feels like a slap, not only to us personally, but for others who are being labeled or grouped based upon a superficial "fashion/expression" choice?
Knowing this person, she clearly understands I am not this body, nor my hair style. Perhaps this is multidimensional bias or program we are here to forestall??? Awareness = The Power of Choice = The Power to Change❣️