The Gold in Her Hands

I been standin’ in front the mirror for close to an hour, twistin’ my hair slow, takin’ my time. Don’t let nobody tell you natural hair ain’t work—every coil, every curl, demand attention. And that attention cost money, even if it ain’t cash. Products, oils, combs, the time I put in. I learned early: time and money both count, and both gotta be respected.

Mama used to say, “Baby, hair ain’t just hair. It’s pride, it’s patience, it’s power. Treat it right and it gon’ treat you right back.” I feel that today. I feel the lessons in my fingers, my arms sore from twistin’, but steady. Motivation don’t always come in speeches. Sometimes it come in small victories like this: no breakage today, no knots too tight, every twist lay right.

I check my jar of shea butter, countin’ the uses left. Only enough for two more days if I’m careful. Money tight as always. Can’t afford waste. Every dollar spent right now feel like a seed I plant, knowin’ it gon’ grow into somethin’. Financial discipline ain’t just adultin’, it’s survival (Fernandes et al.). I remind myself of that.

I lean in closer, combin’ through the curls, and talk to myself quiet: “You doin’ good. You got this.” Self-talk ain’t weak. It’s medicine. Acceptance too—acceptin’ that I can’t be perfect, but I can be consistent. That’s enough.

Outside, the sun peek through the window, hittin’ the twists just right. Reflection hit me different. My hair ain’t just protection for my scalp. It’s armor, it’s patience, it’s a reminder I can handle the rest of my life if I treat it like I treat these twists—with care, focus, and respect.

By the time I step back, hair complete, I feel rich. Not in cash. Not in gold. But in skill, in discipline, in the quiet pride that only comes from showin’ up for yourself every day.

I grab my comb, pat it against the counter like it’s a drumbeat, and smile. Motivation don’t always roar. Sometimes it hums, steady, in your own hands, in your own coils. And that hum? It enough to carry me through whatever come next.

Works Cited (MLA)

Fernandes, Daniel, et al. “Financial Literacy, Financial Education, and Downstream Financial Behaviors.” Management Science, vol. 60, no. 8, 2014, pp. 1861–1883.