(conclusion) Every Bear Does It At Least Once

[jpinsd]

So, due to the overwhelming response, I will be growing the beard back. Thank you all for voting!

I'm actually pretty happy with that, considering i was missing the beard about 3 minutes after I shaved it off. I'm still having to deal with the gray, tho. I'm not bothered that I have gray hair, it's what it represents.

As some of you know, I spent over a decade cocooned away, not doing much of anything. Although I'm 41, I still feel like I'm 31 — until I see all that gray. It reminds me that I wasted 10 years: not dating, not falling in love, not living, just hiding.

So now i'm trying to make up for lost time :-)

I decided to keep a visual record of how long it takes to grow the beard back (inspired by bigkid's same photo record).

Here's day 1

Comments

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

But surely those missing ten years are part of what makes you, well, you? You seem just fine now, so why regret what you got you here today?

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

Thanks. You're right; the gestalt of all my life experiences add to the uniqueness that is ... well... me.

I just wonder how many amazing people I could have met, but didn't. Would I have already found my life partner by now (or at least had a great deal more sex)? Those are just a few of the things I wonder about; tho I try not to dwell on them too much, they're still things I think about.

If I can offer a bit of perspective:

[liquid-wayno.livejournal.com]

Within the past two years, I've met way more people in real life through this LJ-contraption, than I had throughout the rest of my whole 'queer-career' (and I'm almost two years older than you !!). You've got plenty of time to catch up.

[kingfuraday.livejournal.com]

This might come as a surprise to a lot of people, but life is not a contest to see who can have the most sex... Hmm, ok wait - according to Darwin I think it actually is. Hmmm... well, nevermind...

[ericsandgo.livejournal.com]

It is hard for me to believe that things truly don't happen for reasons. I try not to question the why of life's experiences and focus more on the addressing the future with the body of experience I have gained. (smile)