Oolong and Oatmeal

So, this one used to really bother me. It's one of those things that dads say that, when they say it, you think, "Nice try buddy. Not me." And then, yes, you.

Here it is: If you hang out in a barbershop long enough, sooner or later, you're going to get your haircut.

Sounds pretty lame. But it's true. Ok, so, I've never really spent that much time hanging out in barbershops, but I think the idea was supposed to carry over into other areas of life as well. 

My dad used to say it in regards to the people I was hanging out with. It'd go something like this:

Dad: So, I hear that So-in-so (Not an actual friends name, I don't know anyone named So-in-so, though, now that I think of it, it'd be a pretty cool name) has started smoking.

Me: Yeah.

Dad: You ever think about smoking?

Me: Who? Me? No. I'd never do anything like that.

Dad: Well, maybe it isn't such a great idea for you to keep hanging out with So-in-so.

Me: Dad, just because he does doesn't mean I will. I think it's gross (no I didn't) and bad for you (I didn't care) and it smells bad ( I loved the smell). I won't start smoking just because he is.

Dad: I don't know, if you hang out in a barbershop long enough, sooner or later, you're going to get a haircut.

And sooner or later (sooner) I got a haircut, er, started smoking or whatever the conversation was about.

This drove me crazy. Here I was, a rebellious teenager who, despite my arguing, was often times torn between two choices. I hated thinking that anything or anyone had that much pull over me. I'd get so upset with my dad for this kind of statement, because, I thought it was insulting. As if these knuckleheads could influence me that much.

But they did.

And it just made me so mad when he was right. It still does. I should look into that.

The thing is, the people we hang out with do have influence over us. Either good or bad. We let them of course, but they have pull over us. How they talk becomes how we talk. What they watch or read or listen to becomes what we're in to too.  We, I, need to be careful who we allow to sway us. We need to make sure the people in our lives are the right kind of people.

I know how that sounds. But I mean the kind of people who are going to make us better. Who will challenge us. Not drag us down. This is not just a teenager issue. Even grownups like Yours Truly need to keep this in mind. We need to remember that we influence others and they influence us.

Don't believe me? Fine. Just keep hanging out in that barbershop.

Let me know how you like your haircut.