Taking care of and being aquainted with my own hair throughout all stages is one reasons I can roller set WL hair with ease, stretch for very long periods and would find it easy to transition to natural sans big chop if I so choose.
This is slightly OT, but I agree with this wholeheartedly!! Even though my hair is very short right now, I definitely have enough hair that I can put in some braids or some kinky twist or something, and believe me, the temptation is there! But, I refuse to do it because I have instead chosen to be intimately acquainted with my own hair during each and every stage of its growth! In previous years I have spent so much time in weaves and wigs, so I figure that I have already had that experience and have learned whatever I could from it. Now it is time to focus on MY hair and even though it can get super boring wearing just my own hair at times, I am learning so much about it and overall enjoying my hair more than I ever did as the self appointed weave queen!
As the weeks and months go by, I have and will continue to experiment with my hair to see what it can do.
I am willing to do protective styles, mainly to promote laziness and to reduce manipulation, but I refuse to LIVE in them, even if that means that my hair will never meet its full potential as far as length.
As it was so eloquently said before, it's about the journey, and not the destination.
I don't know if I can ever achieve waist length hair, but
IF I can, I'm definitely takin' the scenic rout!