19 Thoughts I've Had While (Reluctantly) Participating in #NoShaveNovember

"It's growing in so nicely."

"No. I promise you, it's not."

"If you just gave it time, you'd have a nice full beard and I'd love you much more."

If you ever need to quantify―or qualify love (there's no such thing as unconditional love), apparently you can just boil it down to facial hair length.

Because, see here, on the one hand, a full beard is something to behold. On the shameful other, a misshapen scraggly mess is something to abhor.

My wife can't safely confirm the latter without actively pushing me to the brink of insanity towards the greater cause at stake in the former. She will, in fact, love me more with a beard. She'll settle for a mustache, something with a similar appeal that's more lost on me than the obvious perks of a beard.

Which, if you're unsure of those obvious perks, let me tell you what I've come to envy of beards:

1. They go with everything

2. They're great for storage of food

3. If you know what the benefit of a scarf is, particularly while bemoaning the absence of one in the cold, then, well, you can imagine what a wearable, more permanent scarf is on your face.

4. Tiny scissors: haven't you too yearned for a good reason to use them?

But this envy has, at its core, created a deep resentment towards my wife and bearded men. The latter, is innocent. The former, well, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID.

It's like my whole being is at odds with itself, a Frankensteinian Complex, if you will (is that a thing? You know, like how Frankenstein's monster is doomed to never understand its own existence? Or like how Zack Snyder made two garbage DC movies about gods questioning their place in the world?).

I both want and don't want to endure the process. I both want and don't want the beard. I both want and don't want the success or, more likely, failure of my facial hair on my hands or face.

But, shit guys, it's only November 7th. We're a week in. If you've started the same process, commiserate. If you haven't because you're not some stupidass college kid, point taken. I'm not either, and I―forgive me.

If you're someone who has a beard, wear it proudly, but not unseemly. Take care of it. It's precious. People always get shit for referring to their dogs or cats as children. They're confused, sure; but remember―and never hesitate to call it such―your beard is also your child.

Feed it. Nourish it. Coddle it. Tell it its special. Set them up for a lifetime of disappointment, and then crash the housing market, ignore the wildly inflated cost of college tuition, and then poison the job market with your own air of entitlement.

Oh, and I know what you're thinking. That metaphor is abysmally tenuous in its fit. It's okay. It doesn't have to make sense. This is one of the most trivial things you'll find on the internet today. So, you're welcome.

[anad]

"F*ck, this is itchy."

"I look disgusting."

"Not sure if I feel homicidal because of the way this beard looks, or if the way this beard looks is what makes me feel like I shouldn't be around children."