I had an Epiphany

6.12.2014

I'm terrified of my straightener and curling iron. I'm petrified that one day I am going to leave my house only to come home to a pile of ash because I left my straightener/curling iron on and burned down my entire house. Sadly, it's one of my greatest fears in life.

For years my family has made fun of me for this little "quirk" of mine. When I was in high school I would leave for school only to call my mom five minutes later asking her to go upstairs and make sure I turned my straightener off. She would (or at least she said she did), and it was always turned off. In fact, not once have I ever left my straightener or curling iron on after using. Never! Yet, to this day I'm still terrified of it happening.

Where does this irrational fear of mine come from? Until recently I honestly had no idea. I had never been a home fire, and I didn't have friends that had burned down their family home due to irresponsible hair appliance usage. I honestly assumed that I had no connection with fire and dangerous hair tools. That was, however, until I sat down one afternoon to watch a Friends re-run. 

Friends was something I watched all the time growing up. I could quite literally quote the entire ten seasons word for word if you asked me to, which is why this particular episode caught me by surprise.

You see, the other day when I turned on the television I watch the Friends episode where Rachael burns down the apartment because she left her hair straightener on. 

And there it was! 

My lifelong (or at least ten year old) fear of hair appliances had surfaced. I had finally discovered where this paranoia of my stems from. If Rachael could burn down an apartment by leaving her straightener on, then by damn, it could happen to me too! 

Unfortunately, uncovering the root of my problem hasn't helped me in overcoming my fear. In fact, just yesterday I pulled out of my driveway only to pull right back in so I could go back inside the house and triple check that I had turned my straightener off. 

Apparently this little "quirk" of mine is here to stay, so I suppose it's about time to (wo)man up and invest in one of these.
Funny door mat that reads "Turn off your straightener"

 photo morgansignature_zpsc3f5971d.png

21 comments:

  1. Jackson threatens to get that door mat because I'm so paranoid about my straightener!! I bought one of those 60-minute timeout straighteners and it has saved my sanity! I know that even if I leave it on, it will shut itself off after an hour. Now it's just that hour I have to worry about. haha.

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  2. This is not an irrational fear, I have it too! Better safe than sorry, right?

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  3. Its way better safe than sorry. I always worry about that too haha
    XO
    Ellen of www.askawayblog.com

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  4. Haha. Trust in knowing you're not alone dear. lol. I had to turn around the other day and I KNEW I hadn't even thought of using my straightener that day. We're weird, but we can be weird together.

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  5. Also called OCD my friend. You probably have a few minor case of it, as do I. My OCD relates more to numbers than things, but reading this is spot on. Embrace your crazy! I love it!

    -Kate
    www.theflorkens.com

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  6. At least you've figured out WHERE the fear comes from! Ha! I've never worried about this, but now I think I might... thanks for that ;). But seriously, you definitely need that door mat! So, so perfect.

    Brianna
    xobriannaleigh.com

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  7. Wow. I saw that episode! That is definitely the root of this fear of yours, for sure! I am totally crazy about certain things as well. That mat looks like it might help!! Haha. =)

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  8. I have most definitely left my straightener on. I know, it's terrible. GHD makes a straightener that shuts off after being left on for so long. I don't know if all of them do it but the two I've had did it.

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  9. Ughhhhhh OCD takes over my life sometimes and this is one of those issues I have too. Just this morning I had to go back upstairs to check the straightener for a fifth time even though I know I checked before...but I couldn't remember actually seeing it unplugged. I make myself late all the time because of that damn thing!

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  10. My sister is the exact same way. She has never left her straightener on but the thought consumes her the moment we go somewhere. I always panic because I think I forgot to lock the door when I leave for work so I assume everyone is just going to go in and steal everything. I think it's normal?

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  11. I totally understand! I have left work to go home and check the coffee maker...only to realize that it has an auto-shut off feature and had already turned off :( woops!

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  12. This is so funny and so true! The worst feeling when you can't remember if you turned it off....ahhh!!!

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  13. So true! I do the same with the oven + stove. I wake up in the middle of the night to double and triple check! They should make them beep a few times to double check you are using it, and then turn off after a certain amount of time if you don't press a button letting it know it is still in use!

    Lisa @ Showered With Design

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  14. Put you a note on your mirror and set an alarm before you leave daily to make sure everything is turned off.

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  15. I can't imagine any woman who owns a straightener NOT having this fear. Damn....did I turn mine off this morning?!

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  16. Love the new blog design!! I bought a pottery pot and actually put my curling iron in it. This way if I ever leave it on (and oh yes I have) nothing can get harmed!

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  17. I need one of these! I'm always afraid I left my straightener on. I've actually burned my carpet before.

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  18. Here's what you do... Take a picture of the outlet with NOTHING plugged in. I have done this so every time I'm tempted to turn around halfway to work I will look at the picture and think "Meagan, your straightener is off. You unplugged it. You even took this picture to remind you." Lol I know it makes me sound crazy but I stopped feeling like I had to check it 5 times because I consciously took the picture. Before when I would check I wasn't even thinking about it really.

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  19. I have this same exact fear!!!

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  20. OH MY GOSH. Twinsies x2393939. This is my worst fear (besides someone stealing my dogs) I love love love love love that mat!

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  21. I am super paranoid about this too! But I decided this mat would not help me. I already check it 5 times before leaving the house, so getting to the door and seeing that rug would make me go check just one more time... And then again, and again, and again. It's a vicious cycle haha.

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