Long Term Relationship

In college I ran out of shampoo and money at about the same time. Working two jobs and attending school full time was killing me. Have you ever washed your hair with body soap? You know, that liquid gel stuff they made so that the bar of soap would become obsolete? Yeah, that stuff. You would think it would have the same effect as shampoo, since they are both soaps. I mean, you can use shampoo to wash yourself... but... take it from me... you cannot use liquid body soap to wash your hair... it's like putting liquid hand soap in the dishwasher. Not the effect you are going for at all. Anyways, after I tried the whole liquid soap in the hair, I knew I needed shampoo more than food, so I spent my last few dollars on shampoo. And when I mean last few, I really mean THE last dollars I had. It really wasn't much. Luckily (or not so luckily), I worked retail in college. There are some very fond memories of that time in my life. Like the time I knocked over a Pepsi display and got covered in Pepsi. Or the cart runs in the rain. Or the constant stream of customer's who would tell me how much they hated college kids (yep, I was one of those college kids...). Or getting locked in when the power went out and having to stock shelves in the dark... too much fun....

Anyways, working in retail, I always knew which brands were on sale. At this point in my life I had never used Herbal Essences, I had just stuck with whatever my mom bought me in high school. I probably wouldn't have even looked twice at Herbal Essences and would have gone straight to my normal brand, except it was on sale that week. Surprise, surprise. It was surrounded by sale signs and practically calling my name. I reluctantly bought it- who wants to waste their last dollars on something that could potentially make your hair too greasy or too dry- and went home to wash my hair. Let's just say that I have forever since been an Herbal Essences girl.

What did I learn from this? Many may think that it is shallow to buy a new shampoo with your last dollars instead of buying food, but this experience became a defining moment in my life. I seem to constantly find myself in Herbal Essences moments, where I seem to be at a low (what is lower than washing your hair with liquid body soap?) and with my last bit of hope (a little less than $3) I grab for a solution that I would never have done in normal circumstances, and guess what? Reaching for something outside my comfort zone makes all the difference. That is the hardest part of life. Comfort zones are so comfortable! I know! Cheesy, right? And yet true.

I guess that is what I am trying to remember right now as I am looking for a job. I just graduated from college with my Bachelor's degree in History, and I have no idea what direction I want to take with my life, and I am scared to jump into something I am not 100% about. I like to have plans and make sure they are followed through with. However, I cannot seem to set any plans for my future and it is driving me crazy! I guess I just need to stand up and reach for the Herbal Essences- the unexpected- and go with it. Easier said than done.