The Setup

There I was, sitting in a big, cushy chair at Nordstrom’s in downtown Seattle, my feet soaking in warm water, my hands being massaged, and my brain trying to process what was happening.

Me. A manicure. And a pedicure.

Oh my gosh.

I had never done anything like this before — ever. And for good reason. It simply didn’t fit my self-image. I’ve always thought of myself as a rough-and-tumble, outdoorsy, manly sort of guy. Men like me don’t get manicures and pedicures. We get dirty fingernails, cracked heels, and calloused hands — and we’re proud of it. That’s part of the brand, right?

So what on earth was I doing there?

Well, as is often the case when men do something out of character, there was a woman involved. A very special woman, in fact. I wanted to do something for her — something romantic. I knew she enjoyed getting manicures and pedicures, and I discovered that Nordstrom’s had a private room where couples could sit side-by-side and get pampered together.

How romantic, I thought. And how brave, I didn’t realize.

The Shock

When we arrived, I tried to look calm and confident, as if I did this every Thursday. But the truth is, I was completely out of my comfort zone. The moment I sat down and the attendant started working on my feet, I nearly levitated out of the chair.

And then came the surprise of all surprises.

I found out that a pedicure involves more than just clipping your toenails. There’s soaking, scrubbing, buffing, and — to my utter astonishment — massaging. She massaged not only my feet but also my calf muscles. Holy cow! No one had ever done that before.

The Surprise

Once I got over the shock, something unexpected happened: I relaxed. In fact, I got so relaxed that I actually fell asleep for a few minutes. Only me, right? Falling asleep in the middle of a pedicure.

 

When I woke up, I felt… well, good. My feet were smooth, my hands looked respectable, and my sweetheart was smiling. Somewhere between the filing and the foot scrub, I realized that this whole experience wasn’t just about grooming — it was about connection. About saying “yes” to something new, and sharing a simple, quiet moment together.

The Lessons

Now, would I do it again? Honestly, probably not. It still doesn’t fit my brand or my self-image. I can’t quite imagine myself becoming a regular at the Nordstrom Nail Bar. In fact, I can remember walking in and out of the spa area looking around nervously, hoping no one I knew would see me going in.

But if my sweetheart asked me to do it again because it would make her happy — I’d say yes in a heartbeat.

And here’s the funny thing: ever since that day, I’ve been getting compliments — especially from her — about how good my nails look. Hands and feet. Never heard that before in my life.

There are probably a lot of lessons in this little adventure — take your pick:
– Sometimes you have to take one for the team.
– Sometimes you just do what the woman wants.
– Sometimes you have to risk your image for love.
– And sometimes, the things you swore you’d never do end up giving you a story worth telling — and maybe even a smile you didn’t expect.