Small accomplishments can mean a lot

It’s the simple things in life that mean the most.

But when you’re doing those so-called “simple things” with one hand, it’s not always so easy.

I’ll go out on a limb — pun intended — and say most women know how to generally braid hair. It might not look the best, but they can do it. Even though I grew up riding four-wheelers and playing sports, it’s still something I learned.

After my car accident, I lost all my hair. Doctors had haphazardly shaved it off while repairing my torn scalp. Since then, I’ve only allowed my hair to be trimmed to keep it healthy looking. I had no idea how important having hair was to me until I no longer had it.

As it grew out, I had to re-learn some “simple things” like putting it in a pony tail, blow drying it and curling it. Five and a half years later, I don’t struggle to do any of that, with the occasional exception of curling the hair on the back of my head. But what two-handed woman can easily do that?

One hair style I’ve strayed away from is braids, which started being frustrating as having a braid or two in your hair became the “in” trend.

I’m not exactly sure what prompted me to suddenly brainstorm a game plan, but as I was falling asleep one night last week, I convinced myself I could do it. I put my hair in side pony tails regularly now that it’s long enough, so it couldn’t be too difficult to braid that.

Initially, my strategy was to wrap my hair over to the right side in a pony tail. Then divide the strands into three sections and individually put hair ties around those so they stayed separated. I’d slide the three hair ties down the length of my hair as needed. At the end, I’d pull the other ties off and wrap one at the end.

That method was almost perfect. The hair tie at the top actually didn’t work well because it ended up pushing my braid down pretty far, which made it pretty short and odd looking. But I used the three ties at the bottom of the strands and weaved them in and out from each other, using my hand, arm and mouth to keep each one where it needed to be.

My second try was close, but I struggled to get the three small bands off and put one at the end of the braid. But by the third time, I was successful.

A task I once assumed I’d never be able to do, I had just accomplished. Naturally, I doused it in hair spray to ensure it wouldn’t fall out and so I could show it off.

Is it something I’ll do everyday? Definitely not. But is it something I’m pretty proud of? Of course.