February 1, 2007I Am Not My Hair Color
My wife is a redhead. She is getting frustrated after years of continual comments linking her hair color with anger or other negative characteristics. In our discussions I considered the process -acknowledge the person’s direction, state your own and give an alternative. I came up with “I realize you’re having some fun, but I’ve been listening to shots about my red hair all my life and I still don’t find them funny. Will you think twice before you have another go?”
Yesterday one of our grandchildren, a 15 month-old, was exhibiting some stubbornness. A friend linked her attitude to her rich golden-red hair. My wife gave the phrase a try. It didn’t come out word perfect but the result was an immediate and profuse apology which was received and accepted with appreciation.
I think we’ll be teaching our grandchild some power phrases as soon as she learns to talk.
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Bravo!
Comment by Judy — February 1, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
I am blonde. I am attractive. I am bright and articulate. I am occasionally clumsy. I, also, am not my hair color. More on point, I’m not some others’ opinion of that hair color. Thank you for giving me a Power Phrase!
Comment by Meredith Miller — February 8, 2007 @ 10:04 am
I can understand where you are coming from. I am also a red head who was viscously ridiculed as a child. In fact I did not appreciate my hair color until I was in my 20’s and noticed all the women trying to get my hair color out of a bottle. Now I am more comical about the responses I get when being judged on my hair color. I have encountered several people that judge me right on that important first impression solely on my red hair. I am automatically viewed as being bitchy, fiesty or whatever. Most times I just blow it off and see it as an insecurity of the person I just met. Sometimes I come back with a silly comment like, “Wow I haven’t heard THAT before” It’s all in my attitiude. Since it is my natural hair color for 35 years now I have grown quite fond of it, judgements and all, and just choke it up as to how insecure some people are. Don’t forget the one’s that are just plain envious that we have this hair color that is so darn difficult to get out of a bottle :o)
Comment by Christine — February 9, 2007 @ 8:03 am
I too am a redhead..and besides the usual redhead comments..I also get asked, “Is that color natural or out of a bottle”..
aaaaaaaagghhhhhhhhhhhh!
Comment by Carol — February 15, 2007 @ 1:47 pm