Monday, July 13, 2009

an old habit

How many of you have a habit you just can't kick? Some habits are normal and don't bother others. Mine, however, is such a quiet one, yet I think bugs the people that are around me. I can remember having this particular habit all the way back to first grade. I can remember sitting in my little chair and having a piece of hair in my hand and twirling it. I would twirl it for a few seconds, tuck it behind my ear and then pull it out. Then I would start the whole process again.


I tend to twirl my hair and not really notice that I am doing it. When it is a continuous thing someone will say something to me. I remember at work Linda commenting about me twirling my hair. It is always the same piece--on the left side just about an inch into my hair line right at the part in my hair.

When people see me doing it non-stop they asked if I am worried or stressed. The answer is usually "no". I don't think those two have anything to do with each other.

Lately I have found myself twirling ALL the time. If I pull my hair up into a ponytail I will leave the twirling hair out so I can keep twirling. Even at night, laying in bed, I lay on my left side, prop the pillow under my head a certain way so I can keep twirling. You would think it wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately for me when my hair twirls around my finger it makes a small sound, believe it or not. And, since Jorge is laying right next to me and is super sensitive to sound (and light), he can hear it. I have been trying to do it quietly, where as to make no noise. I think I am getting closer.


There have been times when I haven't been able to twirl my hair. A few botched up hair cuts have left me without the ability to grab much hair to twirl. You would think since I have been doing it for so long I would go crazy if I can't. But, the truth is I didn't even think about twirling when my hair was so short.

Jorge always threatens he will cut off my "twirling" hair. He LOVES his hair so I just return the threat and it usually ends the conversation about it.

I really don't know why I do it. It feels good on my fingers. And, when it is longer I twirl the twirled hair around my ear. That feels really nice. I know, weird! If I am not twirling, the twirled piece of hair will be tucked behind my ear, just waiting for me.


I am not sure what the point to this blog entry is. Even though I have been doing it almost all my life, I still find it an odd habit and am curious to why I do it.

5 comments:

Cutzi said...

Hee hee. Ok - true confession time here. I twist the yarn on baby blankets. THIRTY THREE years old and I love to twist the yarn on baby blankets. Your hair twirling reminds me of this...

I guess I don't really have anything else to say about it, I just wanted to confess. ;-)

Unknown said...

It's funny that I would come home and read this blog. I was twirling my hair while I was sitting at the stoplight. I usually twirl a piece similar to what you twirl. On the left side, but I twirl and pretend that it is magically going to be clipped to my head.

On another note. Your hair looks much darker in these photos. Is it just the lighting or is your hair actually getting darker?

grandmamargie said...

Maybe it just makes you feel secure to do that. Similar to babies having a favorite toy or blanket. I know the sound it makes. Kinda like scissors cutting hair only not as loud.

Amy Strain said...

Now that is the Val I know...I will always think of you and hair twisting as forever friends.

Amy Sacher said...

http://www.bodylanguageexpert.co.uk/what-do-nail-bitinghair-twirling-reveal.html