Bad Hair. Great Memories

I was looking through my photos from London the other day and couldn't stop laughing. There were photos from theatre nights, train rides, walks through neighbourhoods, and day trips to places I had always wanted to visit. There were photos in front of famous landmarks and photos taken simply because I was having a fun day.

And then there were the selfies. You know the ones.

The wind had clearly won the battle with my hair. Some looked like I had been walking for ten hours. Others looked like I had just stepped off a roller coaster. In one photo, I honestly have no idea what my hair was trying to do.

A few years ago, I probably would have deleted them. This time, I didn't.

In fact, they became some of my favourite photos from the trip. Those pictures tell the real story.

They remind me of standing on a windy pier in Brighton. They remind me of wandering through London without a plan. They remind me of getting lost, finding my way again, and discovering places I never would have found if I had stayed on the main tourist route.

They remind me that I was there.

• Not sitting at home thinking about taking the trip.

• Not waiting for the perfect time.

• Not waiting for someone to come with me.

I was there.

As I've gotten older, I've realized something. The best memories rarely happen when everything goes perfectly. They happen when life is a little messy.

• The train is delayed.

• The weather doesn't cooperate.

• You take a wrong turn.

• Your hair looks ridiculous.

And somehow those become the moments you remember most.

For a long time, I worried far too much about getting things right. Looking right. Having the perfect plan. Taking the perfect photo. These days, I care a lot more about collecting experiences than collecting perfect pictures.

The truth is,

• Nobody remembers your hair.

• Nobody remembers if your outfit was perfect.

• Nobody remembers if everything went according to plan.

What they remember are the stories.

And when I look back on London, I don't see bad hair.

• I see adventure.

• I see confidence.

• I see independence.

• I see someone who got on a plane, travelled across the ocean, explored new places, and created memories that will last a lifetime.

Not bad for a few terrible selfies. Because at the end of the day, bad hair washes out. Great memories stay with you forever.

About Jackie

After more than 30 years helping communities through disasters, Jackie Kloosterboer is now focused on a different journey — her own. When a 15-year relationship unexpectedly ended, Jackie found herself rebuilding more than a future—she was rediscovering herself.

"Jackie Doing Jackie" is about solo travel, meaningful work, theatre, coffee shops, reinvention, and learning to fully live again. Because preparedness matters… but so does choosing yourself.