Hehā¦Iām forced to chuckle over smoothloverās story.
A ābig guyā who could be a wrestler walking along with two womenā¦and the group of men and women in their 40ās-50ās are laughing? Yeahā¦heās got a lot to worry about <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
I shave full body. Reasons? Comfort above and beyond all else (I was honestly shocked at just how much more comfortable I am shaved)ā¦and I prefer the appearance (Iām rather hairy by nature). And my wife rather likes it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
This is my first spring going out with shaved legs and Iāve noticed a couple of things so far:
- Most folks simply donāt notice. This includes meā¦Iāve been quite surprised to notice that some of the guys I see on the train or out and about have been shaving. Once I noticed the first one, I started actively looking ā youād be amazed how much passes us by unnoticed.
2 Those that do notice donāt tend to care one way or the other. Maybe itās that Iām into martial arts (have been studying full-time for the better part of 10 years now) and generally hang out with guys from the school (Iām pretty sure I also tend to have the general bearing and attitude of a fighter). Maybe itās that Iām physically fit (shaving has actually helped get me into the best shape of my life ā removes any doubt as to whether Iām getting chunky or not). Maybe itās that I simply donāt care what they think and make that clear in my attitude and reaction.
Iām going with the latter. If you go out there worrying about what other people think, then they will (a) be more likely to tell you exactly what they think and (b) be more likely to take on extreme opinions simply because they think they should. If you go out there not caring what everyone else thinks, youāll find that most folks simply donāt careā¦and the ones that do are safely relegated to the realm of meddlesome pricks.
Every one of us has something odd. Something that sets us apart. I shave. In the grand scheme of things, this is so minor a thing as to be laughable. Heck, most folks seem to think I look one heck of a lot better this way than when I was competing with the dogs for the shedding brush. Thereās worse things in this world than to have folks mistakenly think youāre trying to get into modeling.
Iāve got friends who are extremely hairy (worse than I am/was). They have no problems going out in shorts. They look one heck of a lot more āoddā than I do. If what youāre after is social acceptance, the only thing you can do is simply be confident in how you feel comfortable (whatever that is). Thatās it.
If youāre hairy, you stand out and are socially ādifferentā. If you shave, you stand out and are socially ādifferentā. If you trim you stand out and are socially ādifferentā.
So be different. Enjoy it. Revel in it.