You know how things you were repulsed by as a kid seems much cooler, or at least bearable, now as an adult? Things like spinach, vitamins, or, for me, nose piercings.
Nose piercings are very common among Indian women. There's not much significance to it, other than another spot in your body you can have gold dripping from; but some schools of thought, like the ancient Ayurvedic text Sushruta Samhita, suggested that nose piercings were prevalent from ancient periods and if done near a particular node on the nostril, it would lessen the pain during your period.
Several elderly members of my family, my late grandmother included, had nose piercings, and they didn't seem particularly stylin’ to me when I was growing up.
It was only in recent years that I’ve been contemplating getting a nose piercing. In between actually appreciating where I came from and looking at badass Indian bridal jewelry, I thought it was a good idea.
Also, I’d like more yogis to come up to me and bow down, thinking I’m some sort of guiding light. True story: I stepped into a yoga class in LA and someone asked me which guru in India I was a disciple of. (Just because I’m brown doesn’t mean I’m a guru, guys.)
I brought up the nose-piercing idea with my boyfriend. His response. “Maybe if you were 21?” Thanks for pointing it out that I’m closer to 30 than I am 21, baby.
I floated this idea to my gay BFF. He pointed out my permanently blocked nasal passages.
I told my mother. She said no.
What do you think? Will it up my badassedness or will I just be regretting it five years down the road when I’m juggling my future child in one arm and my MacBook in the other?