That One Chin Hair

That One Chin Hair

– A Love Letter to the Women Who Are Still Figuring It Out

There’s a moment in every woman’s life when she spots that one chin hair.

You know the one. It shows up every few weeks—suddenly, boldly, like it owns the place. You swear it wasn’t there yesterday.

It’s long. It’s wiry. It’s got the audacity of a man with a podcast mic. I didn’t have time to deal with it, of course. So I did what any grown woman would do: panicked quietly, hoped no one would notice, and swore I’d remember to get it later. (I didn’t.)

But this isn’t really about the chin hair. It’s about what it represents. As I sat in the car, I started thinking about how many things I’ve postponed like that. Little things. Big things. Dreams, plans—parts of myself I swore I’d return to. 

Because that chin hair shows up right around the time life starts moving faster than you ever expected. One minute you're wiping noses and rushing through grocery aisles with a toddler on your hip—and the next, your “baby” has facial hair of his own, and you’re wondering how 15 years slipped past you like you woke up from a dream. 

Postponing Became My Default

I used to say “tomorrow” like it was my comfort crutch—familiar, always there, and always letting me off the hook.

I’ll start slowing down...
When I feel better.
When I’m not so overwhelmed.
When I have more space.
When I just get through this one thing.

My whole life, I’ve thrived on last-minute deadlines. But beneath that hustle was a craving for slower, softer, more peaceful days—and I kept postponing them, thinking one day life would open up and hand them to me on a platter.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

From Tasks to Time That Matters

I used to spend a lot of time with my son—but not always the kind that counts. It was always errands, chores, school pickups, rushing home to cook, clean, repeat. And then suddenly, I blinked—and he was 15. Running his own errands. Claiming his independence. Growing his own chin hairs - clearly inherited. 

Now? I try to go slower, very intentionally. I don’t always win at it, but I try. Because I know something now that used to just be a catchy quote: "The days are long, but the years are short." And the endless days of being needed turn into rare moments of being wanted—and the truth is, I'm not ready for that. I don't think any of us really are.

Life is Happening Now—Whether We’re Ready or Not

We think we’ll start living once we hit certain milestones. Once we lose the weight. Once we find love. Once the house is cleaner, the inbox is cleared, the stars align.

But the truth is, aging is a privilege—and it’s not waiting for our to-do list to shrink.

No one’s coming to hand you a better moment. This is it. Chin hair and all.

So wear the outfit you’ve been saving. Say no without a paragraph of guilt. Text the person you miss. Eat the good chocolate. Enjoy your loved ones. Take the walk. Sit in the silence. Love harder. Rest more. Let go of the guilt. And my new favorite—just smile more.

And for the love of tweezers, stop waiting until tomorrow to start becoming the person you want to be.

A Final Note from the Mirror

If I could talk to the version of myself from ten years ago, I’d hug her tight—and then tell her to stop waiting. Time flies faster than you think. The peace she’s chasing won’t come wrapped in a perfect moment. It’ll show up in quiet mornings, late-night talks, and memories that aren’t made by your iPhone camera roll. And yeah, I’d probably warn her about the chin hair. Or maybe not. Let it be a surprise.

Because those hairs? They aren’t betrayals.
They’re reminders.
That you’re still here.
That you’ve grown.
That you’ve made it this far.
The time to live fully? It’s now.

What’s one change you’ve made—big or small—that shifted your life for the better? Share it below. Someone out there might need the reminder today. I know I do!