Will you throw the ruler away and just enjoy your hair? I haven't measured my hair since maybe 2004, because really, what the heck do inches really tell you?
I have always wanted long hair ever since I was a little girl. I did not want X number of inches. I wanted hair that could be put in a ponytail. Of course as I got closer to that, I then wanted not just any ponytail but a big poofy ponytail. In other words, I don't care how many inches that will be, as long as I get my ponytail.
It's the same with my body. I only ever find out my weight at the doctor's even though we own a scale (hubby's idea). Because really it doesn't matter how heavy I am. If I have the body of a dancer and I am svelte, why would a bigger number on the scale than I expected matter? When I see Sylver's body, how much she weighs doesn't even occur to me at all. All I see is one very nice body that complements everything else about her. In other words, her appearance, not her stats, is what makes me stop and stare with envious drool.
I had a BC in Feb of 2007 from shoulder length hair to about 2-3 inches stretched. Come June of 2008 I pressed a section of my hair and to my pleasant surprise my hair was a little past my shoulder. Do I know how many inches I gained? Nope. Did my hair make huge strides? Heck yeah! If I did not have pics or had not been there to witness the horror of Feb 2007, I would not have known that I had a TWA back then. You have to remember, I am the girl that had a TWA through my teens and never imagined having more than neck-length hair. So I am grateful that I have seen it grow a few inches more. But as we all know, once you get a hand, you want an arm, so longer would be even better for me. So yes I yearn for more. Do the inches matter? Not to me. I mean, if I see Dsylla's hair, I don't have to know her length in inches to know she has long hair; nor does it matter what her growth rate is. All I wanna know is what it is she does so well to get hair that long. When push comes to shove, it doesn't matter how long it takes to get to the mountain top, it just matters that you get there.
You know, we really need to learn to count our blessings. The fact that our hair is growing and that we have any to fuss about is truly a blessing. There are people losing hair or without hair, who cannot even hope of someday perhaps being able to wear a certain style. Weaves or braids are not an option they can escape to to enjoy the fantasy of long hair for a spell. And then there are those with long hair who are a little sad that they can no longer rock that Halle do that worked so well for them, or wear that Rihanna cut or whatever celebrity short do is getting raves at the moment. And even the person who's losing hair or who has none, there are stories of others who have walked in your shoes and come out on the other side with hair, whether it be from healing of the cause of the loss or from transplants; so really it isn't the end of the world. There is a glimmer of hope that you can have hair again. In the meantime though, you have options of rocking any do by way of wigs and the blessing of not having the hassle of tangles etc. When I was dealing with a bald spot, necessity to hide it led me to invent a puff that got the most kudos any do I have ever worn had or has to date. In other words, no matter what your situation, if you stop fretting and try to think of what good there is in it, you will find reasons to be grateful.
I don't use growth aids because I believe my hair will grow as long as I take care of my health. And that I will eventually have long hair as long as I continue to improve my haircare practices so I can retain what I grow. I have noticed that very few people that claim fast growth rates ever have the length to show for it. I know retention plays a part but that only emphasizes my point: WTH then is an awesome growth rate good for if you won't have the 12 inches a year or 24 inches a year that the 1" or 2" per month rate is supposed to give you? That's why I find this obsession w/ rate of growth a bit laughable.
So Princessnad, keep your face to the sun, and you will not see the shadows. Is your hair healthy? Not breaking? Not falling off? Let's toast to that. Have you worn every possible hairstyle you can wear with it at that length? Then get on with that before it grows too long to pull it off. This journey is supposed to be a fun adventure, not a race. And if you pay attention you will begin to notice that the "race" doesn't go to the swiftest (There is always a story of a setback as to why they didn't make those 24 inches in a year). The "race" goes to the one that stays focused and keeps thinking "I can" and never gives up. Slow but sure wins the "race".
Hugs,