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Melissa Mata Murphy

@graybecomesher

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followers

776

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Embracing gray; placing energy elsewhere
Creative director-ish, artist-ish, sober-ish
Mom-wife-boss-friend-teacher-student
Living w/💯 intention 🤌🏽🔥💪🏽

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Growing out your gray doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun with colors!

My colorist @theboltandthebeautiful used the most wonderful toners that would gradually fade over a month or two-ish. We played with lavenders, pinks, rose gold, silver, even neutrals… I decided to stop about 2+ years ago in order see what the gray looked like with my actual brown hair that was left.

Going gray was honestly not hard bc the process Taryn used was slow; it only required patience. We would lighten then tone then lighten then tone. I never had a hard “line” to deal with. The process was so gradual it was pretty amazing. And it gave me time to mentally and emotionally process the actual change going on in the mirror. She’s a true color expert (and wonderful human), so I was in great hands throughout the entire journey.

#goinggray #midlife #silver #almostfifty #perimenopause #creative #artist #expression #colorful #color #hair by @graybecomesher

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a year ago

Started my gray journey by lightening and toning in 2016ish. Last session: October 2021. I didn’t DARE show myself in public without full makeup on until quarantine 2020.

I still get a little thrown off when I see myself in the mirror, aging. But I cannot control time. What I can control is:

- what I do with my time
- the attitude I carry as I walk through this lifetime

Are you considering not following the norm about something in your life? If YES, please, please share! #goinggray #midlife #perimenopause #almostfifty #creative by @graybecomesher

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5

a year ago

The freedom to age.

IG may have its issues but I’m forever thankful it introduced me to accounts like @welcometoheidi @parkhere @thesilverlining_1970 and so many other incredible women with their beautiful content and powerful words.

Join me in the rebellion 🔥❤️

#midlife #almostfifty #goinggray #perimenopause #creative by @graybecomesher

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7 days ago

What’s stopping you?

We need more of you in the gym. We need more women in the weight room. We deserve to take up space there!

We lose strength naturally every year. Our independence late in life relies on us building strength, functional mobility and balance today.

Tell me, what is keeping you from going? I want to find a way to help. I’m working on ideas I have to help you feel comfortable and confident building strength. But I’m just one person with my one life experience so I need to hear from you.

much love 🙏🏽 you’re amazing

#midlife #almostfifty #womenwholift #strongisbeautiful #strongforlife by @graybecomesher

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24 days ago

Oh, how times have changed. 🥹

I love you forever, my green-eyed, freckled-face lizard boy.

#boymom #midlife #almostfifty #ttu #emptynest by @graybecomesher

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2 months ago

Big day. No snooze button Day 6 🤘🏽
“…As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.”

Moved my oldest into his first legit house rental for his second year of college. The road we’ve been on has been one that could easily be a best-selling novel. Maybe one day it will be.

(And yeah, I was not in my right mind when I chopped all my hair off while living in new mom survival mode)
#midlife #boymom #almostfifty

What song am I singing along to? by @graybecomesher

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2 months ago

Today was interesting, eye opening, and affirming. I always feel better after a lift. Physically and mentally.

It’s comical to see a surgeon’s reaction to my XRays and imaging. “But you’re so young!” they say. “If you were 70/80 it’d make more sense.”

Yeah, I know. 🙄

Thank you God for the muscle, and more importantly, for the mental strength I’ve gained while putting it on 🙏🏽 We’ve got this, whatever “this” may be.

-> shoulder doc took a look at my shoulder and neck X rays and is sending me STAT to a spinal surgeon. More to come 😬🫠 maybe he’s just being dramatic 🤭

#midlife #almostfifty #perimenopause #womanwholift #strongasamother by @graybecomesher

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3 months ago

I forever have a second “birthday” from now on! 💃🏽🇲🇽❤️

Operación : Aprender Español -> comienza ahora 🤘🏽🔥

#midlife #almostfifty #creative #artist #mexican by @graybecomesher

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3 months ago

Full transparency: I had a mommy makeover in 2020. It did NOT solve all my problems. It replaced some issues with other, new issues. It didn’t give me the “perfect body” I expected it to.

I do not regret doing it. But I do wish I’d come across @aliciae sooner. I likely would’ve been just fine with the body her programming would’ve transformed.

It doesn’t matter tho. Every day I show up for myself, I love myself a little bit more. I respect myself. I’m more in tune with my intuition. And my GAF about others’ opinions have left the building (as has my estrogen, no coincidence there).

Nearly two years of Alicia coaching me thru:
- progressive overload weight lifting
- eating to support my need for energy and wellness; understanding nutrition and macros
- closing the door on crazy cardio, intermittent fasting, under eating, regularly drinking alcohol, hamster-wheel-stress

To say I’m 🔥 FIRED UP 🔥 is an understatement. I’m pushing my personal development energy out in ALL the directions bc this growth and improvement sh*t is my new addiction.

Bikini: @cupshe

#midlife #almostfifty #goinggray #perimenopause #womenwholift by @graybecomesher

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3 months ago

The best part of this whole thing was receiving messages from friends and strangers saying they were inspired to pick up their art practice again.

That! and learning to listen more to my intuition than to my inner critique (who’s really just a scared asshole).

Mom’s Honeybee is just getting started. I know they’re both so proud up there/out there/just on the other side of this life. I started out wishing I could be an artist to owning it as an identity ❤️🔥

#midlife #almostfifty #creative #artist #theartistway by @graybecomesher

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4 months ago

Finding my art.
1. Sketch (posted as Day 70, done earlier)
2. Paint intuitive colors with what I had (posted as Day 65)
3. Follow your gut. Look for the hot pink paint pen you know must exist, then buy them when you find them.
4. Quick test, pick one, find out it was EXACTLY what your intuition was telling you to do. (Day 90)
5. Feel proud of yourself and oh-so-freakin-happy
6. Make a mental note to go back and add the whiskers. 😸😂🤷🏽‍♀️💃🏽

I would have NEVER gotten here had I not started and stuck with the @dothe100dayproject . 🔥🙏🏽❤️

#almostfifty #creative #artist #midlife by @graybecomesher

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5 months ago

74/100!!!! My art, posted 74 days in a row, Y’all 🤘🏽

The skirt is currently sold out 😭❤️

I love how her photo was styled so much! 🔥 I love how the ink and charcoal and pastels felt on my fingertips 🥰 I love that I did this.
That I am doing this.

#midlife #almostfifty #creative #artist #creativedirector by @graybecomesher

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5 months ago