Stephen S.

Bearded since: 2009. I am an occasional or seasonal beard grower.

Comments:
My father had a beard my whole life before me and it has always been his most striking physical characteristic. I will never forget being on a ski trip when I was little, and when my dad (an avid ski bum) came to pick me up from ski school, he had a great big grin from ear to ear and his beard was frozen over from having skied the whole day. I think that is kind of always how I picture him in my head: adventurous, happy, and bearded. Once I grew it out for myself, I realized that the men in our family were given a gift of great full beards, and as such, were meant to have them and display them proudly.

How do I feel about my beard? Some days I absolutely love it and am fantastically proud of it. Others, when it's got food stuck in it or is taking a long time to trim, I'm tired of it and wish to be free of it. But it only takes a thought back to the agony of shaving to remember which one I prefer.