A Soul Care Moment

Occasionally, I stop at my favorite market, grab a sandwich and a drink, and sit outside in the sunshine. This Tuesday, after I taught my classes, the sun was shining, and because we had had only four days of sunshine in January, I stopped at the market. I hemmed and hawed over a turkey or ham sandwich, an apple for dessert or dark chocolate, Kombucha or seltzer, made my purchases, and sat outside at one of the tables provided. It became chilly as I ate, so I pushed my hair back as best as I could and put the hood of my sweatshirt up. My hair kept puffing out, but I thought, oh well, I'm having a soul-care moment.

Squinting into the sunshine, sandwich half gone, I watched three young women skirt around me and look at me like something was wrong with me. Confused but polite, I smiled at them and continued to eat my sandwich. They eyeballed me again on their way out of the store as they walked to their cars. Again, I smiled but was still confused. As I sat back and took a deep breath, enjoying the sun on my face, a breeze pushed my hair into my face. I tucked it back into the hood and caught my reflection in the window.

I sat in an oversized black coat with a hood on, and my uncombed grey hair puffed out like cotton from under the hood. I didn't have a stitch of make-up on, and my wrinkles were prominent as I squinted into the sun. I looked messy and unkempt, and I wondered if the young women thought I was homeless, enjoying a free meal compliments of the store. I giggled. I couldn't let what other people thought bother me. Time is short, and life is busy, and I have learned that no matter what I look like, disheveled or presentable, taking care of my soul is of utmost importance.