The Beautiful Body

Keep Calm

Well said, indeed. You know, the old saying goes "Nothing worth having comes easy." So true. Life can be a (taylor) swift kick in crotch some days. Lord have mercy, He knows it can. But as I'm continuing to learn, the more the adversity, sometimes the better the person you become...the stronger and more wiser you become.

It may take time. I'm in my 40s and still coming into my own. And you know what? That's all right, I'm a long way from where I was, where I've been, and can honestly without hesitation say I love myself. PERIOD. I'm proud of the man I am. Ian has no problem telling haterz where to go if they get in my way. For every ig'nant person, there are two (or three, four, or MORE) angels, ready to rally for my cause!! I know who's got my back!

As I told friends at a recent gathering, I cherish each hardship, struggle, tear, what-have-you, because I'm better today. Yeah, I have my self-doubt moments, but that's OK. Ain't nobody perfect, right? So I love myself absolutely. I'm so worth it!

As for you? Do you, be you! Love yourself too.
-Ian

The Mirror

I was surfing through blogs not long ago when a came across this post from Mike In Bama's sit about folks and their relationship with mirrors. I was like, "cool." because I hate mirrors. ALWAYS have. I'm reposting Mike's original blog and the link below. I take no credit for his work...



I have a mirror phobia... I don't look in the mirror very often.

If you're under 45 years old, take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Not because we want you to think about your life and where it's going or anything. Just because we want you to squeeze in some good mirror sessions while you still enjoy them. According to a new survey out of England, age 45 is the turning point when people stop wanting to look at themselves in the mirror. The survey found that's when people look in the mirror and can't avoid thinking about how they've aged.

In the survey, 51% of people 18 to 24 say they look in the mirror at least 10 times a day.

From ages 25 to 34, that drops to 44% of people.

From ages 35 to 44, that drops to 33% of people.

And after age 45, only 9.4% of people look in the mirror that often. More than a quarter of people over 45 take it even further and say they try to never look in the mirror.

The survey also found that women are almost three times more likely to be concerned with aging than men. 32% of young women surveyed said they're dreading getting older versus 12% of young men.

Self Censorship

Going through the the archives of the Axe, over the months there've been a few posts I removed, put in draft mode, because they were in my opinion too revealing. I suppose I'm having some second thoughts about deleting these thoughts? I mean they are significant in my development, but I've never been one for embarrassment.

Republishing these will put them back in Blog feed circulation. I'd much rather they stay buried, not live up to humiliation and the possible negative feedback. Then again... Sometimes a man has to stand up his fears in order to achieve his truest desires.

So what do I do?

Shave & a Haircut...

Lord I need a haircut! Hmm. Familiar rhymes from childhood are singing through my memory as I text this post....

"Wolfin', wolfin' wolfin' for a cut!"

I checked out my mane in the mirror a few moments ago, it's looking a bit scruffy. Time to visit the BMCC this weekend. Perhaps get it shaved way down since I'm not a fan visiting the barbershop too often. For reasons why peruse my brother in blogging Corey@I'll Keep You Posted on his multiple experiences with bruthas, being gay, and traveling the the bastion of masculinity. Not my favorite thing to do. Yeah, no....

Since I turned forty in March too seems like my color is turning salt 'n pepper faster. More grey in my mustache every day. I don't mind it. I appreciate the follicle presence, so I refuse to complain have a discoloration on top of my scalp. Papa Red Bear was born with a mess o' hair so I'm not quite I'll know how to act without if it ever thins out or I decide to shave it down to scalp. Fortunately I don't have a misshaped head. Might look more like the Buddha, but I mos def won't be Mr. Peanut!

So my first gift to myself this Holiday Season is a fresh trim courtesy of GQ Stylez in Stietztown Saturday.... Hurrah!