FREEDOM TO CHOOSE
Beards are as popular as ever. And along with the popularity comes the cultural phenemonon of people trying to figure out why.
At first, everyone thought the beard fad would be a short-lived trend that would subside within a few years. Some pointed fingers at IPA-drinking hipsters, while others sought to frame the rise in beard popularity as a signal that men were pushing back against changing perceptions of masculinity.
There are, of course, a myriad of reasons why we grow beards, mustaches, van dykes, or any other beard style.
But the most overlooked reason — the one that is right under our noses — is that we grow because we can and choose to.
And choose really is the keyword here.
After all, if life is just a series of decisions, choosing to grow a beard (or a mustache or mutton chops) is you exercising your freedom and power to define your life. And when you define your life and make choices that build your confidence, well, that’s where the good things are.
So the next time you brush your beard or comb your mustache, take a moment to reflect on what that facial hair is — a manifestation of your freedom to choose.