Life Lessons From the Nail Salon

Hi, friends. When we pay attention, the seemingly mundane experiences of daily life can teach us things. In this post, I am sharing some life lessons I learned at the nail salon.

Good Things Take Time

When I sit down to get my nails done (SNS), I can expect the process to take about 45 minutes. Though it’s tedious, it’s all worth it in the end–45 minutes of work for nails that last over 3 weeks. A few months ago, I got a nail tech who was in a hurry, and when the person finished, I suspected there would be consequences. Sure enough, a nail broke 4 days later, and I had to go back to the salon so they could fix it…for free.

Sometimes, we rush through things and cut corners only to regret it later. Remember that good things often take time. When we devote ample time and effort to important tasks–reconciling a relationship, renovating the house, studying for a test, etc.–we usually wind up reaping better rewards.

We Have to Wait Sometimes

I like going to the salon during slow hours, but I can’t always predict when there will be a line. Sometimes, I have to wait for an hour. In the days of instant gratification where people hit the back button when a web page takes longer than 3 seconds to load, that feels like forever. When this happens, I have no choice but to sit back and relax.

We have become so busy and impatient. Though we each have many obligations in our lives, do we have to be in a hurry all the time? It is simply unrealistic that everyone can have everything they want or need immediately, yet we are quick to shift into an angry mood or even fly off the handle when we have to wait. Next time you have to wait, take a deep breath; it’s not the end of the world.

Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

What are nails? Protective shields on our fingers and toes made of keratin protein, the same ingredient for hair. Though nails are small, having them decorated can transform a woman’s confidence level. A popular volunteer effort at nursing homes is painting ladies’ nails, and I’m sure that’s because elderly women don’t get pampered often. Pretty nails help them express their femininity in a small way.

Little things can make a big difference. Little gifts like a chocolate bar or a flower can brighten someone’s day. Small efforts like straightening up the room or doing a load of laundry can make someone feel appreciated and relieved. Short phrases like “I’m sorry” and “I love you” can change situations and even mend relationships.

When you go out and about, take a break from internet browsing via phone sometimes to observe your surroundings and savor what lessons and joys life has to offer!

Thanks for reading!