There’s a certain task. It lives on a to-do list like a long-term tenant—quiet, familiar, and in no hurry to move out. For me, that task is going to the hairdresser.

I’ve been telling myself for years that I’m going to get my hair professionally styled. Not a trim, not a quick tidy‑up—an actual style. Something intentional. Something that says, I thought about this. But somehow, that appointment never gets made. It just drifts from one mental list to the next, untouched.

Part of the truth is simple: styling my own hair has never been my gift. My hair is long and thin, and without some professional magic, it doesn’t do much on its own. So I do what’s easy—I pull it back into a ponytail. It’s my default, my comfort zone, my signature look by accident rather than design. If there’s a special occasion, I wear it down, but even then, it’s not really a style. It’s just… out.

And honestly, the ponytail works. It’s quick. It’s familiar. It keeps life simple. Most days, I’m a homebody tucked into my rhythm. I often ask myself, What’s the point of getting my hair styled? Who am I trying to impress? The answer is usually no one. So the hairdresser stays on the list. It waits patiently for a day when I feel like stepping out of my routine.

Maybe one day I’ll walk into a salon. I will sit in that chair. I’ll let someone transform these long, thin strands into something new. Maybe I’ll surprise myself. But until that day comes, the ponytail remains. The hairdresser stays right where it’s always been—on my to‑do list. It’s untouched but not forgotten.

Daily writing prompt

Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.

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