Rediscovering Life in Short Hair and Glasses

It feels good to be back to blogging after nearly four months away. I hadn’t planned for the pause to stretch that long, but life has its own way of keeping me occupied. What I thought were small shifts, cutting my hair short and slipping back into glasses, ended up reshaping not just how I look, but how I feel about myself.

For the longest time, nothing felt worth putting into words here. Then, a few weeks ago, on a whim, I cut my hair. Such a simple change, yet it carried with it surprise, laughter, and a quiet moment of reflection. It reminded me why I love sharing these little slices of life with you.

In this blog, I will be sharing a set of pictures that trace my journey: short hair during my school days, long, flowing hair in my prime youth, and now, this new short-hair era. The contrasts are surprising, a little nostalgic, sometimes even amusing, but together they weave a story of change and self-discovery.

The shortest hair I ever had was during my school years, right up until Grade 12. Back then, short hair wasn’t a choice. It was a rule I had to follow as a student.

But curiosity can be a tricky thing. I experimented with dyes, chasing new shades and styles. Slowly, the waves I loved so much lost their softness. My once-prized hair turned dry, frizzy, and rough. Every wash left me holding strands that felt more like hay than silk. Eventually, I had to make the difficult decision, and I cut it short.

I didn’t rush into it. I visited two different salons, hoping to find the right length and style that would feel like “me” again. The first salon, however, left me disappointed; the cut wasn’t the length or style I had envisioned. This is how I looked: 

Stepping out of the house that day, my long hair was still in place, and I had no plans to chop it. But late at night, I returned home with my hair dramatically shorter. Zamin, my niece, saw me for the first time and froze. Mouth open, eyes wide, she muttered, “You look like an army wife!” Her shock made me laugh so hard as it was such an unexpected reaction, and it perfectly captured the surprise of change. My dearest Apa was also a little disappointed; he had always loved my long hair. During a video call, he jokingly muttered that Zamin and I, now sharing the same hair length, looked like drug addicts. I couldn’t help but laugh. Even in disappointment, there was love; even in jest, there was my Apa's deep admiration for my long hair of mine.

Short hair isn’t the only change I have had to adjust to. After months of wearing contact lenses, my eyesight had worsened significantly. One morning, after a video call with my youngest brother, I picked up my glasses to wear them, and lo and behold, the frame broke on the right side. I had to get a new pair, and, as part of my usual routine, I checked my eyesight. To my dismay, my prescription had increased drastically. I finally accepted that it was time to go back to wearing eyeglasses. At first, it felt strange, like a part of my old routine was gone, but now, just like my short hair, my glasses have become part of my new reality.

There are joys in these changes. Short hair dries faster, takes less water and shampoo, and costs less in hair products. Glasses make life simpler, too; they are comfortable, easy, and a reminder that care sometimes means letting go of what we once relied on. Both teach patience, acceptance, and self-love in ways I hadn’t expected.

Slowly, I have begun noticing the small, beautiful freedoms: the breeze against my neck, the ease of mornings, the lightness in daily routines, and the comfort of clear vision. I have realized that my beauty and confidence were never in the length of my hair or the absence of glasses; they have always been in me.

These changes may not have been my first choice, and they may have surprised or shocked some, but they have become reminders that life is about embracing what is, not clinging to what was. Hair grows back, eyesight adjusts, routines evolve, but confidence grows alongside us.

Looking in the mirror now, I see less of what I have lost and more of the person who is still here; lighter, stronger, and learning to love herself in every new season. Short hair, new glasses, unexpected changes; they have all reminded me that life isn’t about clinging to the past or holding on to how things used to be. It’s about embracing what is, finding joy in small daily moments, and discovering beauty in every chapter, even the surprising ones.

Here’s to change, to laughter, to little lessons, and to the courage to embrace ourselves fully, hair, glasses, and all.