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Summary of Question:	I Cant Face My Parents
Category:	Hair
Date Posted:	Friday, 5/21/2004 7:58 PM MDT

I m 22 years and recently came to US on a company assignment from India.

However because of many factors like my extensive travel profile, difficulty maintaining and keeping my hair clean and the stares and taunts I endured from americans mistaking me for Muslim, I took the decision of cutting my hair.
Believe me I was so frustated I did not know what i was doing.
I havnt cut my hair since but obviously it will take years to grow it back.
I hav not informed my parents.
Now I am homesick and want to go back. But I do not hav the courage to face them.My dad is not keeping well and I dont want him to suffer in the community because of me. I dont think I will ever show my face to my parents again and I m quite frightened because of this.That split rash decision has changed my life.
I know u hav answered numerous problems of sikhs cutting hair but could u pls advise me on what is the right thing for me to now.
Thanks.

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First you have to ask your self if you want you hair back because of your family and religious pressure or because you really want to embrace your identity as a Sikh your self. Then, once that is answered, you can proceed. If you love your identity as a Sikh from the inside, you can write your parents and tell them that you made a horrible mistake, but that you have learned from that mistake and understand the importance of living to your ideals even when it is not convenient or easy. If you really don't care about your hair or your Sikh identity then you will have to decide what you want to do about it. Do you want to just stay in the US as a short haired Sikh...non-Sikh?

The US is the land of the free...the land of diversity...but you have to walk tall and be proud of your identity. Educate people that you are a Sikh and what that means. If you are weak and ashamed of your identity, people of any culture, any country will pick up on that and taunt you. Be proud of who you are and live it. Blessings. GTKK