Interested to dare, dare to be interested!

So something happened recently, something that I would never have expected. Maybe deep down I had been hoping this would happen at some time in my life. I definitely did not expect it to happen neither this way, nor with these people but it just did and it was great. I also know that I could never have planned it, not in a million years.

So what is the "it" i am referring to?

We had been invited over to some friends' house, who we knew a little and enjoyed a lot. Whilst the husbands were out buying meat for the BBQ and the kids bouncing happily on the trampoline, my friend was on her computer. She is a very creative lady and I commented on what she was doing with her photos. She looked up at me and very spontaneously said, "Let me take some photos of you". Kind of unusual, but somehow I went with it.

She then handed me some props like jackets, sunglasses and gave me poses to do. It felt odd but hey I was going with the flow and being spontaneous. She then said, "Take your hat off". Whooaaaaa! My heart sunk and my inner voice shouted "Run!!!!"

The question was however posed in such a gentle, non threatening manner, that although shocked and scared, I felt compelled to do as she asked, and take off my hat. You have to realize with the exception of my husband, kids, hairdressers and Doctors, no one has ever seen my bare head.

From her body language, tone of voice, it was clear that she genuinely wanted to see the beauty and shape of my head. She wanted to view it in a creative and artistic way. She clearly did not want to stare and mock, which is probably what I fear the most. She wanted to see the beauty underneath and not the beast.

Once I had taken off the hat, she immediately gave me a glowing smile and spoke words of real encouragement to get me to show certain facial expressions. I went with it. She was so complimentary to my beauty, that I could only be proud and comfortable. We laughed and took photos, beautiful pictures that I love. The photo shoot was over in a matter of minutes but the products were amazing. For me a monumentus achievement. She never once looked shocked nor disgusted. This is clearly what my irrational brain was expecting.

This was neither planned nor could it have been. This was someone daring to be interested and me being interested to dare.

I still to this moment, don't know where I found the courage to follow that simple instruction to take off the hat, but I am sure glad I did. I am very grateful for my friend for daring to be bold, for choosing to take a risk and for showing me that new things are possible.

She sure is some gal!

(Note: the photo on the "About me" section was taken that day.)