I haven’t written anything alopecia wise in a long time and I’m sorry for that.  It’s not that I have nothing to say on the matter but so much else is more important.  And lately I find that I don’t want to be as open about my story as I was in the past.  For it seemed opening myself up has also allowed others in.  Which for the most part has been therapeutic and healing; not only for myself but for others.   But along with the good will always come the bad.  The naysayers that wish to bring…

September 3, 2010... this was the year that I took the first steps to liberation. Liberation from myself, liberation from disease and liberation from society's perceptions of what I should look like and how I should be. This date was the day that I shaved my head. 3 years ago I did the one thing that I never thought I would have the courage to do. I picked up a pair of clippers and shaved what remained of my hair. Alopecia Universalis had taken most of it and I finished the task. Its…

Last Saturday (August 3) was International Alopecia Day. A day created a few years ago to bring more awareness to the world and also to bring a supportive and unifying voice to all those affected by alopecia.

This year I decided to share my voice to this cause by spending the day at a local botanical garden. Enjoying a beautiful summer day and surprisingly bug free. For International Alopecia Day, a day of feeling empowered and confident I felt none of it. In the nearly 3 years since…

In my thirty-eight years on this planet I have seen friends come and go. Living with a shameful disease like alopecia I have seen a fair share mostly go. I can admit to myself a lot of that was due to not wanting anyone close enough to know my shameful secret. I have gotten better at picking my friends over the years, as we all do as we get older. Or so I thought. Coming out of the shame of alopecia three years ago I found a set of friends that welcomed my new found energy. These friends…

You always hear : dont judge a person til you walked a mile in their shoes. This has become so apparent this past week, with my friends and family. You really cant blame or judge another for the choices they have made in life. We each have our own issues, adversities and ghosts in the closets. We each have made the best decisions with the resources we had at the time with the knowledge in which we had it. How can you sit in your glass house and judge them for those choices. I personally grew…

In my journey of growth and learning I came across a book about Buddha nature or the Buddha way. Simply titled Buddha Nature Now. Im always wanting to take in new information of our world with an open mind.

Upon reading into part of this book it talks about oneness. Simply put we are of one within our own body, we are one with our family, our community, our country and our world. We know that our actions are felt on a small scale within our personal circle, it is harder to think on a…

Its amazing how one simple act can alter ones perceptions of everything. And who would have thought that such a act would have such an impact on someone like me. I remember distinctly how I felt before sept 3 2010. It was my greatest fear. Thinking back to 2 years ago, I can still feel that overwhelming fear. 2 years ago I was facing my second bout of actually being bald. I was once bald as a 8 year child. And it was the worse thing that I endured. I suffered from bullyings, thinking that…

I wanted to share with you all the recent article that was written about my alopecia journey and my love of horses. This was written in a western Canadian publication and available in all tack stores and feed stores.

What a year its been so far. Unbelievable and Im totally gobsmacked. Im grateful and humbled that all that has transpired in the last 7 months. Curious as to what the rest of the year will bring.

Lets start this with the article that was written about me and voyages to the gym, which was issued in my local newspaper in late April. This was after I approached the marketing director of the gym I go to, about the possibility of raising some awareness about alopecia. I had been approached…

Its JUST hair. We have all heard this. My personal opinion is YES. It IS just hair. It is not needed for daily life. It serves no purpose other than esthetics. Im talking about the hair on our heads. As someone with alopecia unversalis, I do miss having natural hair protection for my eyes and nose. I also know that after 29 years of alopecia with the loss, regrowth, loss, regrowth never ending cycle; I am much more content not having hair. The lessening of the stress is overwhelming.…

Recently I had done an interview with the editor with the local newspaper. It was about my alopecia journey and my going boldly to the gym without having any head covering. I was thrilled to see it printed in the newspaper 2 weeks later ( its a weekly paper) and even more shocked to see my picture on the front page. A small pic, but still front page.…

"To the Dalai Lama, suffering and adversity are the necessary conditions for developing patience and tolerance. These qualities are vital if we want to reduce negative emotions like hatred or anger. When things go well, we have less need to be patient and forgiving. It's only when we come across problems, when we suffer, that we truly learn these virtues. Once we internalize them, compassion flows naturally."

I read these words while reading The Wisdom of Forgiveness. One of the many…

this is the story I sent to Women Behaving Baldly. While writing it and be transported back to that day was difficult but I decided to share it here that maybe by chance you might find it inspiring or relate able.

The day that I shaved my head is still a fresh memory, even though its been 19 months (September 3, 2010). It wasn’t a day I planned to shave my head, in fact I woke that morning with the resound thought that I most definitely was not going to shave my head.

That day…

Since my first introduction into the alopecia community in August of 2010, I have experienced a wide range of emotions, and revelations.

My first thoughts when I was first diagnosed with alopecia as an 8 year old was horrified. How can something like this happen to me? And how can I possible live like this. Well obviously 28 years later I do continue to live. In fact I thrive.

A very quick overview of my experiences growing up with alopecia..... I was diagnosed at 8. It was…

This is a quick little post. I just wanted to share an experience that I had yesterday. Now that today is a new day.

Yesterday when making my way around town, I experienced the stop and gawk that comes with embracing my baldness. In fact while walking into the gym 2 young girls almost tripped and felled down while walking backwards, staring with their jaws open. Most days this type of thing doesnt effect me, but as we all know, we have not so great days. I tapped into my inner…

Driving home tonight from work, something struck me. For the first time since I was first diagnosed with alopecia at the tender age of 8(28 years ago) I can actually feel the emotional scars fading. No longer do I feel restricted or ashamed of having alopecia. Yes the scars will always remain but fading they are. From all the years that I hid having alopecia, from the shame and embarrassment I felt, the lack of feeling "normal" or even "beautiful" and feeling totally alone. Of doing the…

for the last 3 years I have been conversing daily with a man in australia, whom I consider one of my bestest, supportest, friends. He sent me this a few weeks ago and this being Valentine's Day I thought it only fitting to share it with you all. For it is a wonderful sentiment at anytime to share.

"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you've never shared with another soul and they absorb…

I found this many years ago. And while going thru some stuff I came across it again.

MY DECLARATION OF SELF ESTEEM

I am me.

In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. There are person who have some parts like me, but no one adds up exactly like me. Therefore, everything that comes out of me is authentically mine because I alone chose it.…

Today was the first day in a long time that it was not easy being an alopecian.

For those that know me and following me on my facebook page "Bald and Fabulous" I work hard on spreading awareness and inspiring others to embrace who they are in the face of alopecia. I do share my page around to different facebook pages, mainly those of other businesses and support sites. Today was the first time I received a "hater" comment. Nothing obviously rude, but enough to prove the point that the…

I just wanted to start off by saying I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Looking back on the year pass, I amaze myself by how genuinely happy I have been. Yes I still have bad days but dont we all? And yes I still have hair memories. But how can you not when you see commercial after commercial with hair flipping all over the place. We definitely need to see some fabulous bald ladies in commercials. But during those moments I just rub my smooth head and I feel better.…