A Muse-ing Beards.

Muses can take many forms, such as people, places – pretty much anything can give you inspiration. Some people retreat to a mountain, some people simply stick on their favourite tunes. Other people even try to capture that stream of consciousness by closing their eyes and invoking the spirit of some monkeygod of the future.

But currently for me, I find my inspiration in the beard. I’ve been growing one for at least the last 3 months and it gives me all the focused energy I could ever need. Sitting and stroking it while contemplating the wrongs of the world, I can sculpt it into any beardy shape I wish to make me laugh, cry (especially when it gets caught in the comb…) or impress my friends. …and they are indeed impressed.

My view on beards is that they are one of the last bastions of manhood; the last facet of being a man that cannot be tainted by socio-cosmetic trends. I’m not comparing the growing of a beard to the birth of your child, but I have a special bond with my face. I also have an affinity with my beard - I’d like it to stick around. While I’m lucky enough to be able to grow a full bodied masterpiece, I’m also lucky to have a woman in my life who likes facial hair.

Now listen. Many women don’t like the idea of beards on men for many reasons. Maybe they remind them of their father, so it becomes creepy and not attractive to look for in a partner. Perhaps they have only met those people who leave food in them – something that is more of an occupational hazard rather than a choice. I too can no longer eat soup without at least seven napkins.

...Or maybe they have just never touched one. A beard that is. Ahem.

When people (mostly women I will point out) touch my beard (and that’s not a euphemism) they are normally shocked that the bristles aren’t razor sharp and don’t give you a rash just from touching beard hair. I think in a small way I changed their lives. For the better.

It strikes me that facial hair in general seems to be winning favour with the masses lately. It is in that sentiment that I don’t worry about global warming – if it makes our climate colder, then more people will want to have beards!

And that is where I leave you for another one of my lunchtime rantings. At least this time I can speak from personal experiences and hopefully you are living this one with me. I’ll try my best to get a picture of the ‘hairy monster’ on this blog so you can see the reason why my friends are so fond of my facial fungus. :)

ALL HAIL THE BEARD.

Til next time,

Snare