My little sister doesn’t like it. My mom tolerates it (”It looks so nice when you pull it back.”). My big sister thinks it’s cool (big sister also had a VW Bug with flower decals when she was 18).

Give me a head with hair...

We went to dinner New Year’s Eve at a mid-priced steakhouse and the old lady across from us stared at me with a look of disgust for most of her meal. I could only smile at her.

Sure, I’ve had my dalliances with short hair. When I was a little kid Dad would take me to the barber who would take it nice and short and whisk my face with the brush. Dad would settle up with him and I would get a piece of Chum Gum. As the ’60s progressed and the counterculture became more and more mainstream I was drawn to the styles of the musicians on the covers of the 45s I would buy at Grants and Singer. If it was good for John, Paul, George and Ringo it was good for me. By 1972 I was 10 years old and sporting hair long enough to prompt Dad’s buddies to call me ‘Alice.’ The joke was on them.

Ten years later it was a social imperative to cut (and spike) your hair. I jumped in with no hesitation. The ’80s carried on and before long there was reason (once again) to flaunt it against The Man. Thank you, Ronald Reagan, Moral Majority, Tipper Gore, and the Christian Coalition. By 1990 it was longer than ever.

The last time short hair happened was in the late ’90s. We were visiting Becky’s family in New York and a particularly charismatic NY hairdresser talked me into it. To be honest, I did it for my then future mother-in-law because she had been so awesome to accept me as I was (and her response to my new flattop was well worth the risk).

I managed to keep it short for a few years, until the tone of the country began to change. Authority was running rampant. Out of control, even. People close to me – people that I loved dearly – began to question and criticize my speaking out about events and trends that did not sit well with me. I saw the same thing happen in the media – on a far larger scale – to people who had the same opinions and concerns as I did. This time it was a statement – a rejection of conformity complete and absolute and without apology. If all the folks with W04 decals on their SUVs got a kick of revulsion when they saw me my job was done.

I told myself for most of ‘08 that I would cut it again if my pick got in office. It happened (a most joyous event that I’m still reveling in no matter who might get bent about it) but I’m still holding on to my mane. I even went out and ordered a short run of business cards with a headshot. Yup. Flying my freak flag upfront – because if you have a problem with my hair you REALLY aren’t concerned about talent or ability. There’s probably a little vanity in this motivation…but I also have to admit that I’m just not quite ready to close the door on rebellion or questioning authority or the ability to make uptight folks uncomfortable in my presence.

If you’re offended by any of this you can take relief that I didn’t just come out to you.

I say it’s time for a different kind of resolution: a resolution to ADD to your life instead of an attempt to do without.

Look into starting a hobby that’s always captured your curiosity – or return to one that you might have put down because ‘you just didn’t have time.’ Try some yoga. Take the cooking class. Outline that idea for a fiction or non-fiction book you’ve been mulling over for years. Schedule not one but three or four get-togethers this year with that old friend who lives a few towns away (or finally take that trip to visit the best friend who is states away).

Listen: we don’t get a lot of time here. The more years we accumulate, the stronger the wind in our face as we race through the seasons; the steeper the hill down which we careen with no drag or brake or reverse gear. Don’t wait for the bottom of the grade. Reach out and grab a chunk of time that is your own – even a few hours a week. Indulge that dream you set aside in lieu of paying the bills. Write, build, cook, CREATE and feed the part of your soul that is so often the first neglected when obligation runs the show.

A selfish resolution? Hardly. Happiness is not a selfish notion, nor is self-actualization. Anyone who tells you different is most likely a miserable fool.

This blog is one of two resolutions I’ve made to “add” to my journey. If I’m good at keeping the second I’ll tell you more about it soon.

Here’s 2009. Make it yours.