The life I want.

Last weekend I stopped in our local little coffee shop, Chairish Life, where the barista knows my coffee order by heart. I ordered an extra beverage for my stylist, Siera, who had a rough night of little sleep thanks to her little ones, combined with her husband leaving in the early hours to help plow out the town. When I walked in, we traded- 20 ounce hot mocha for her 6 week old infant as she turned the lights on and promptly began mixing product for my brassy locks.

I held said baby for 90% of my hair appointment. All six weeks of his perfect squishiness. He fussed and squirmed, refusing to give into any sort of a nap. I fed him a bottle and burped him. I sipped my hot latte while he perched on my shoulder and she continued to foil my hair. I rocked, swayed, and bounced him while my foils set as she shoveled snow off the front step of the two-chair salon. I cradled him while she sat and sipped her hot drink, then pumped liquid gold. He soon fell into a sleep resting on my chest while I dipped my head back into the shampoo bowl for toner and scalp massage.

When it was time for my blow dry and style, I handed him off to her sister-in-law who stopped by and shared pictures of the neighborhood kids’ giant snowman they had built that morning.

As she was finishing up the loose curls, the husband and 3-year-old arrived to to pick me up. She snuck A in for a quick desperately needed trim that was not on her schedule and off we went.

The whole time, I thought to myself, “this”. Yes, this is the life I want. Where the barista knows my order and my name. Where the barista knows my hair stylist’s order and her name. Where my stylist hands me her baby, trusting me to take care of him while she cares for me. Where moms take care of moms.

I want a life where I can be both a client and a friend. I want a life where we’re human first, profession or trade second.

It’s the life I want. It’s the life I think so many of us want, right? Where humans take care of humans. Without judgement.

Take care of your humans first this week. And take care of you too.