Anyone else have a life transformation?

[TheShow]

I was in a pretty big life slump. I never really cared about appearances, or hygiene until I started DE shaving.

I'm only less than a year into it but I noticed something. First came the AD, then curiosity to straight shave, then more AD for straight razor things. I started learning about fragrances and other grooming products, and I'm about to buy my first fountain pen.

Now I'm eating healthier, I bought P90X, and hope to turn my health around. I even got a haircut at an actual barbershop for my birthday and feel amazing. I used to just do it myself to "Save Money" Someone's signature here on B&B sums it up. I can't remember who but it says "Look Sharp. Feel Sharp. Be Sharp."

Anyone else have a similar story?

 

[fezo]

My interest in wetshaving started from a life changing experience. In March of last year i had a bone marrow stem cell transplant. Over a year into things I'm much better but still recovering. For months I certainly didn't have to be worrying about shaving. I was bald from the chemo and pretty much beardless. I managed to hang on to a little of my goatee but the rest of what was a beard fell out as well.

Somewhere in recovery I stumbled into to here which I found out right away is a very special place. I began reading things and as my beard was coming back in I ended up buying a Parker (don't know what model) a brush and some TOBS sandalwood cream. Got hooked in a hurry. I'm up to about 9 or 10 razors, have become a major Proraso addict. Had a fatboy replated. Favorites in the razors are three Merkurs (hate their blades, though) - a Futur, a Mergress and a short handled slant. All were bought in BST here.

What I got out of this was turning a a chore into a Zen experience that really starts my day off right. it's really helped my outlook on things and the positive attitude it's helped create has improved my recovery.

I still don't have what I think of as my hair but I too have started making a much bigger deal about my appearance. It's all good.

BTW, if anyone sees this and wants to get in the bone marrow registry I would consider it a personal favor. Some guy I don't know did that for me and now I can watch my younger daughters grow up and next year will get to walk one the older ones down the aisle. I don't even know the man and he did all that for me. Getting tested involves nothing more than a cheek swab and the odds are good that will be the end of it. If you get the call as a match they'll do a few blood tests and will NOT be going into your marrow ever. They can extract the stem cells from the blood.

Thanks for listening.

 

[Eeyore]

Nope. My interest in DE shaving (I have been wet shaving all my life) came through talk of a friend, and a look at the price per blade. Trac II cartridges are (depending on the manufacturer) easily 50ct per blade, or even more. Besides, I have been interested in "old" things for years, like vintage fountain pens, and mechanical watches. Apart from the "old style" razor, the move from Trac II / Atra to DE has not led to a major change. Nor did I expect that it would.

For those where wetshaving was a turning point in their life, that can only be applauded!

 

[tm3]

great stories! congratulations!

 

[Eeyore]

BTW, if anyone sees this and wants to get in the bone marrow registry I would consider it a personal favor. Some guy I don't know did that for me and now I can watch my younger daughters grow up and next year will get to walk one the older ones down the aisle. I don't even know the man and he did all that for me. Getting tested involves nothing more than a cheek swab and the odds are good that will be the end of it. If you get the call as a match they'll do a few blood tests and will NOT be going into your marrow ever. They can extract the stem cells from the blood.

Thanks for listening.

I don't know how this works in the Netherlands (I am a blood donor already), but I'll Google it.

 

[RandyR]

I just got finished the online paperwork to become a donor. The kit should show up in two weeks. To tell you the truth I don't know how I didn't end up registering before now.

 

[El Generico]

BTW, if anyone sees this and wants to get in the bone marrow registry I would consider it a personal favor. Some guy I don't know did that for me and now I can watch my younger daughters grow up and next year will get to walk one the older ones down the aisle. I don't even know the man and he did all that for me. Getting tested involves nothing more than a cheek swab and the odds are good that will be the end of it. If you get the call as a match they'll do a few blood tests and will NOT be going into your marrow ever. They can extract the stem cells from the blood.

Thanks for listening.

I wanted to add that I had also joined the bone marrow registry a few years ago. It's completely free if you want it to be, or you can donate money to cover the costs of the organization to run your tests. As Fezo pointed out, you swab your cheek, mail it off, and then agree to make yourself available if they ever find a match of someone in need. Super easy and you never know...you could save a life.

www.marrow.org

 

[dreaded_rust]

Great stories guy.

For me it was the pending birth of my son. Knowing you are about to become a father can make you reflect a bit on your ways. I started puting more money away in my retirement funds. Started paying more attention to politics and voted for the first time (at 28). Started thinking about what I had to offer to my boy and thus what I had to offer society.
I began to wonder about what I had to teach him about life, about being a man. I dont recall how I stumbled on the idea of straight razors but when I did I was hooked. I came to reallize this would be a great way for us to bond and when he is ready a great thing to teach. It requires patiance and an attention to detail...two atributes every man should strive for.

 

[fezo]

Thanks for posting that link. I feel silly for neglecting to do that since if it wre nor for those people I'd not be sitting here typing.

 

[dcobranchi]

I'm about to buy my first fountain pen.

The Nib is a very dangerous forum. The enablers who hang out there put the rest of B&B to shame.

Tried to do the marrow thing but, apparently, I'm too old (at 50!).

 

[Eeyore]

Tried to do the marrow thing but, apparently, I'm too old (at 50!).

Same in the Netherlands, I just saw ... what's wrong with our cells?

But seriously, a donor codicil (for organs) or blood donations, are a very good thing, and will save lives!

 

[catherix]

The Nib is a very dangerous forum. The enablers who hang out there put the rest of B&B to shame.

Tried to do the marrow thing but, apparently, I'm too old (at 50!).

+1. Stay away from the nib if you have any respect for your wallet.

 

[Eeyore]

+1. Stay away from the nib if you have any respect for your wallet.

That was my first addiction, years ago

(I should never have encountered the a.c.p.p Usenet group ... anyone still remembering Frank Dubiel as well?)

 

[cb91710]

I won't say "didn't care" about hygiene or appearances, but my "style" has gone through many drastic changes over the last 30 years.
I didn't get into colognes and aftershaves until I started shaving with a DE/straight. My old shaving style was either electric (horrible shave) or a M3/Fusion in the shower using bath soap as a shaving soap, applied by hand.
But my facial and head hair have been in a constant state of flux over my adult life. I was clean shaven, or just a 'stach through college, working retail, and working an office in aerospace.
When I moved to my current industry, I let everything grow. Beard never did completely fill in, and after a couple of years I went back to clean shaven or a 'stach.
2006 I started shaving my head, and shortly after grew a goatee and 'stach. Kept that until I needed to find a new job in 2009 when I went back to completely clean, regrew it in 2010, then took it off again when I interviewed for my current position in the engineering department.

Were I self employed or retired, I would not change anything from what I do now, except I would re-grow the goatee/'stach.


My style of dress? For work, I wear a Polo and slacks with AE shoes and really enjoy them. Days off, jeans, t-shirt, and a pair of deck shoes, or if we're going out, my AE Yuma or Rockport Main Route (suede).
Generally, a Polo replaces the t-shirt when we're going out, and I make sure the jeans are not "broken in" or haven't been used for work.

 

[taco8slo]

That is awesome, keep up the good work, your story is an inspiration!