Today is December 1.
The day when I shave my beard for the first time after No-Shave November. The fourth consecutive No-Shave November of my life. And even though it’s not my first rodeo—it’s actually my fourth—the first shave always gets me.
It’s the best damn shave of the whole year.
There’s nothing like a 30-day deprivation to make something as mundane as shaving the greatest activity in the whole world. There’s really nothing like shaving off a 30-day beard.
And the best part is that it actually gets better every year. That’s because my beard grows faster as I get older (don’t ask me why, but it does). This means that my No-Shave November beard gets fuller every year. Which means that shaving it off becomes more enjoyable with each passing year.
It’s awesome. It’s fun. It’s game-changing.
And I can never recognize myself in the mirror after I finish.
I’m always like, “Who is this little kid staring back at me.”
No seriously. I’m 22 years old. But on December 1, I look like I’m 16 again. It’s so awesome seeing that babyface, that for 11 months of the year is just a normal face. Because I’m not babyfaced at all. If anything, I look older than my age, with all my gray hairs and what not.
But on December 1, I will always look like a teenager. That’s the power of No-Shave November.
Also, there’s this cool little cause associated with the whole No-Shave movement. It’s called men’s health.
People these days often get more carried away with the action than the cause behind it.
When I was in high school, my National Honor Society (NHS) group went to a Lupus Walk. I donated money and participated in the walk. But most of my classmates just participated in the walk. Sure the walk is great because it raises awareness about Lupus, a serious disease. But awareness isn’t enough. Money is what helps people.
Last year, the whole ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was sweeping the nation. I saw all the videos on social media. It raised a ton of awareness. But awareness doesn’t help people with ALS. Money does. A ton of people did the challenge, but not many donated. Why not do both?
And I can’t exempt myself from this type of behavior. For three straight years, I grew out my beard for No-Shave November to raise awareness about men’s health. But I never donated. This year I decided to change that. I grew out my beard and I donated $25 through the Movember Foundation to help fight prostate cancer.
I know it’s not a lot of money, but it’s something. When a lot of people do something, even something small, then big things happen. That’s the whole point of a movement.
So next No-Shave November, grow out your beard (if you’re a guy). But don’t forget to donate to the cause of men’s health.
Awareness is important. Money is more important.