Success is the Sweetest Revenge

Life is better lived if we can turn disappointments into motivation, and never stop trying new things, no matter our age or circumstance.

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Photo by Kobby Mendez on Unsplash

Remember Shelley Luther? She was a salon owner in Dallas, TX, who bravely served jail time in 2020 for defying the COVID lockdown order and keeping her Salon open. This November, Luther’s courage was recognized as she was elected as a state legislator, defeating her Democratic rival by winning 75% of the vote.

Back in 2020, the Lone Star state, like many other parts of the world, was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. In an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, government officials imposed strict lockdowns, “ordering so-called “non-essential” businesses to shut down. Luther initially closed her Salon a la Mode in compliance with the lockdown order. But she reopened her Salon after closing it for a month. As she later explained, “I have no choice. I need to feed my family, and” my stylists could not feed their families.”

After the city issued a citation, a cease-and-desist letter, and a restraining order, Luther refused to shut down her Salon. Dallas Civil District Judge Eric Moyé sentenced Luther to seven days in jail and ordered her to pay thousands in fines ($1000 for each day her Salon opened). She was only released from prison after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott intervened. Luther’s story became a rallying cry for small business owners struggling to survive under the government’s excessive COVID responses.

During the COVID lockdowns, I had to order a set of hair-cutting tools from Amazon and attempted to cut my husband’s hair because no haircut place was open. I did such a bad job that he had to wear a hat for the next two months when he was on Zoom calls, and he banned me from ever cutting his hair again. As we later found out, not all salons were closed because then House-speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot all got their hair done professionals at salons they frequented. It was a hypocrisy that many ordinary Americans will never forget.

Luther, a self-proclaimed non-political figure before the COVID lockdowns, found herself in a different role after serving her jail time. She decided, “Somebody should do something about this madness, and that somebody might as well be me.” Her political journey began in 2020, marked by defeats in the state Senate race and the Republican primary for Texas House District 62. However, Luther's unwavering determination is a testament to her character. Her campaign website proudly states, “Shelley Luther isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in and won’t ever back down from a fight.”

Shelley Luther's third attempt at political office proved to be the charm. Earlier this year, she emerged victorious in the Republican primary, securing her place to represent state house district 62 in the November general election with a resounding win. Her triumph is a beacon of hope for the potential change she can bring to the Texas legislature. As the saying goes, success is indeed the sweetest revenge.