This may be an old chestnut, but the other day I was walking in my local park with my wife and my daughter, when I was approached by an ex work coleague who
saw my beard and said. 'I'm Shocked. Who are you trying to be?'
I simply replied 'Me!'
Since having my beard I truly believe that I am shall we say 'complete' in myself. I feel that without it my true self is not being expressed but
rather hidden away.
What are your thoughts on this and how do you view who you are with your beard?
0 Kudo
Has your beard made you 'complete'?
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 HippieJohn |
Has your beard made you 'complete'? |
Lead | |
|
Beard Elite
Posts: 298 (10/12/08 16:11:26) |
|
||
|
TehHairyOne |
|||
|
Beard Regular
Posts: 169 (10/12/08 20:33:32) |
The longer you keep the beard, the more people will accept this as "you." I have had facial hair now for 1.5 years, and this year I've noticed
more and more people give less negative comments. In fact, it's almost down to NO negative comments anymore. People are scared of change, and assume that
because you have facial hair or are growing facial hair, that you are going through some sort of life crisis. They are only looking at one side of the coin,
it may be that they are going through a POSITIVE transformation, and finally being comfortable with who we are.
I have a chin goatee (no mustache) and this style is one I like the most on me. I have done the full goatee, and full beard, but you have to go with the style that suits YOU. |
||
|
grayjon |
|||
|
Beard Regular
Posts: 121 (10/12/08 21:32:47) |
I have always felt more self confidence when I've had a beard. ( I know some therapist will have fun with that statement.) I do shave my beard a couple
of times a year and sport a goatee. (Since 2003 I have had either a beard or goatee.) I always feel some regret for shaving the beard off. It usually takes me
a few days to get use to the idea of not being bearded. Identity crises? Maybe.
|
||
 wulffpaul |
|||
|
Beard Legend
Posts: 4687 (10/12/08 22:07:27) Administrator |
You seem to be one of those, grayjon, who do not regard a goatee as a beard, whereas the dictionary and the world at large would regard both goatee and full
beard as being beards. So, even though you may alternate between the two styles, you are always seen as a bearded man whatever you may think of yourself. As
for myself, I have been bearded in one style or another for so long that I cannot imagine myself without facial hair; nor, I suppose, do those who know me. I
would, therefore, not be or feel complete without my beard.
wulff |
||
|
higezura |
|||
|
Beard Elite
Posts: 223 (10/13/08 02:56:24) |
i've been bearded in one style or another for just over a year now, and even with that short history, to shave it off would make me feel very uncomfortable
-- just like i would feel very out of place if i were to shave my head 'shiny' bald. either situation would make me feel very self conscious. i guess
the beard is just part of me now.
|
||
|
IntoxicatedTurtleFetus |
|||
|
Beard Newcomer
Posts: 3 (10/13/08 14:05:39) |
Having had my beard for three months (though it has just become full in the past month), I think I wouldn't feel any differently if I shaved it off. Though
I do take pride in my beard-growing abilities, I feel that the people around me would like me just as well shaved (as they have in the past), and I, like most
people, tend to gather my self-esteem from the people around me. Because even if you love your beard more than your wife, it doesn't really matter if no
one else likes it. A wise friend of mine once said that feeding off of your own self-esteem is a lot like drinking your own pee, and I believe him to be right.
It's important to like how you look, and for a lot of people, a beard helps. As for myself, I could take it or leave it. To be melodramatic, my beard doesn't define me, I do! |
||
|
CaptAndy |
|||
|
Beard Elite
Posts: 318 (10/13/08 19:01:12) |
For people who knew me cleanshaven (a little more than a year ago), I think it took them awhile to get used to me bearded. But now that they have I think it
would again be hard for them to get used to me without it. I especially enjoy those people who didn't know me before I had a beard, and when they see
pictures of me cleanshaven they can't believe it. My beard is definitely part of how I present myself to the outside world, but I also think it is (and has
increasingly become) a part of me, and in a way, how I present myself to me. I'm comfortable in my beard.
|
||
|
grayjon |
|||
|
Beard Regular
Posts: 121 (10/13/08 19:04:15) |
Thank you Wulffpaul, You are right in saying "You seem to be one of those, grayjon, who do not regard a goatee as a beard, whereas the dictionary and the world at large would regard both goatee and full beard as being beards." Maybe its my age or just my personality. I regard a beard as a beard and a goatee as a goatee. But a goatee to me is not a beard. ( Please do not take offense to this statement. I have high regards for your input and opinions.) Prior to 2003 I either had a beard or a mustache For some 29 years prior to 2003 I had never considered to grow or shave down to a goatee. Really don't know why except at that time I did not see myself wearing a goatee. In my mid to late forties my beard was turning grayer mostly between the side burns and goatee area. The goatee seemed to match the color of my head hair and I received few negative remarks. I did notice I did not regret shaving the beard as much when I left the goatee. As of now I have three weeks growth on a full beard. I trimmed the neck area and a few strays on the cheeks. I will post a picture with in a week or two. |
||
|
LateBloomerDanko |
|||
|
Beard Legend
Posts: 2501 (10/13/08 21:17:40) |
I just don't enjoy being completely clean shaven. I like having facial hair. I feel more like 'myself' with facial hair. After reading what
IntoxicatedTurtle said, I now hesitate to say if it completes me or not, but it sure is a part of my life, since I sport it.
Happy "Bearding" all!
-----------------
Beards in olden times, were the emblems of wisdom and piety. -Thomas Babington Macaulay
Last Edited By: LateBloomerDanko
10/13/08 21:20:17.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
raidernation5824 |
|||
|
Beard Elite
Posts: 455 (10/13/08 22:56:11) |
I'm not quite there yet in terms of fully developed facial hair, but even though I love facial hair, I like changing things. When I am capable, I think I
will change styles often. Even right now when it comes to my head hair, I have phases were I will want to keep my hair buzzed, but then a few weeks later want
it longer. Without the change, I feel I just get bored with it.
|
||
|
patchyphil |
|||
|
Beard Legend
Posts: 1333 (10/14/08 00:12:00) |
I feel the exact same way as Raidernation, once I'm able to grow a thick full beard, I'm sure I will be changing it someway or another all the time.
I can't say that my beard defines me though, seeing as how this is my first real time growing anything, and I'm only 3 weeks in |
||
|
pmartel |
|||
|
Beard Friendly
Posts: 84 (10/15/08 15:46:02) |
Having had one on & off since my mid-20's, this one's a keeper.
I've always felt naked with facial hair & it just seems to complete the picture. Some of my friend's hassel me, but my partner couldn't care less as he's bearded himself. I've gotten to that stage that I do what makes me happy. I really don't care how others feel!! It could show insecurity of other's if they can't accept what you do in life, especially if it's to improve one's life |
||
