(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

[kingfuraday.livejournal.com]

I agree with Chris - you feel like you wasted 10 years. Ok, now use that energy for something positive - don't let it weigh you down.

Think about how good it feels to be mixing it up and taking part. Let that own your thoughts - not the past.

And be it known, I like the goatee on you - I just like the beard a bit more.

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

Good advice, and i think that is my next step. I need to look in the mirror each morning and think about all the potentially cool people I have yet to meet, and the places to go, and experiences to be had. I need to use the gray hair as a visual kick in the butt; as a way of saying "do it now, while you can, and enjoy it!".

I do think i'm doing that a bit already. Yes, it does feel good to be mixin' it up again, and with such a great group of people!

So, yeah, you're all right. It's time to move past the regrets, and focus on the future; a future filled with good friends, and dancing shirtless with a ton of hunky guys. ;-)


New mood : Optimistic

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

p.s. thanks. I'm not as sold on the goatee as I was a few years ago. I think I really do like the beard. It just took shaving it off to realize how much I liked it!

'cause, you know, you never really appreciate what ya got, until it's gone. or something.

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

... who is Molly Weber?

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

yeah, next time i've had a few drinks, remind me to tell you about the last time I heard that phrase...