Go Ahead, Grow Those Fingernails

I used to get so disgusted when I heard about people growing their nails out several feet (or longer) for fame or even simply for fun. How they heck do they eat, pick their noses, work? Just the look of those nails—often yellow, spiraling down like some kind of alien staircases out of a Wes Craven movie—were enough to send shivers down my spine. Ew…

But when you think about it, it is a personal choice. Some people are grossed out by tattoos or multiple piercings or biker chaps, right? None of those things really bother me, and if anyone said, “She/he is so gross for wearing that! How could she/he even go out in public?” about any of these people, I would probably feel offended on their behalves. To each their own, right?

And then I got to thinking more about it today (while biting my own nail off after tearing it, of all things), and I thought, you know, I bet those people with gargantuan nails enjoy life more than the average Joe! Think about it. On the surface, they’re doing something they love, something they’ve always dreamed of doing. How many of us can admit we did something that crazy or unconventional for something we loved? No matter the reason, if it makes them happy and they’re not hurting anyone, they should completely go for it.

Then there’s another, stranger thought I had, but one that I think is valid: I bet these people live slower lives. You’d have to, right? Just think of how carefully you’d have to type, or cook, or even wipe your butt after using the toilet!  A life like that would have to take extreme care and caution each day, where every moment is experienced and possibly even savored without multitasking into the next. That, I think, is the life. As much as I wish my moments were like that on some levels, I wouldn’t be willing to grow my nails to experience it—but I do appreciate the reminder.

So today, if you like, try adding these two things to your Living To Do List:

1. Do Something Crazy Because I Want To (or Love To Do It). Whether it’s growing your nails out, tattooing cat whiskers on your face, bungee jumping, whatever, if you really dream to do it with all of your might, put it down. And think of a next step towards attaining that dream.
2. Live Each Moment to Its Fullest. Many of us (myself included) always live in the future—we plan, we hypothesize, we overanalyze, we even color code our schedules (okay, that last bit of lunacy might just be me). We forget to really savor our life today, as it is right now—whether it’s folding laundry or playing with our children or dancing with our partners. If you don’t do it already, write this down on your list and start doing it right this moment. It’s the last time it will ever happen exactly this way, ever again.