Young men missing life lessons of shaving

Men just don't shave like they used to.

According to www.statisticsbrain.com (my go-to site for statistics. And brains. And brain statistics), 75 percent of men in America shave every day. That seems high to me, especially based on seeing the number of young men (two of whom stand in line to inherit the Stanhope family throne) who obviously don't regularly shave.

Beards are nearly everywhere. Stubble is present in most other places. We have a month (November) when men allegedly don't shave.

Unfortunately, this change means that younger men (and some older men) miss out on some of the great lessons of life: Things that shaving daily teaches you.

(Not to chase rabbits too much, but the popularity of the stubble look for men has ruined one of the great phrases in our lexicon: "The five o'clock shadow." Is there a better example of using a term to describe something clearly? It looks like a shadow, you get it around five o'clock! It's a perfect word picture!)

Yes, shaving is a metaphor for life. Much of my (minimal) accumulated wisdom comes from applying lessons from my daily three-minute shaving ritual. Those lessons are transferable, too.

If you're a man and you don't shave, you might miss these pointers. So pull up a razor, get some shaving cream, a hand towel, water and take notes.

Here's what you learn from shaving:

1. Consistency is key. If you have regular facial hair (definition of regular: like mine), you need to shave every day. Day after day. Weekends. Holidays. Vacations. If you choose to not shave, that's fine, but it will be obvious. Shave occasionally and you create facial-hair chaos. You must shave every day.

The same thing is true in the rest of life. You win by doing the right thing every day: Save money, exercise, learn new skills. Do it every day and you remain on top of your game. Don't create life chaos.

2. Small things can cause big problems. Everyone who shaves with a razor has probably nicked his nose or earlobe. Small cut, right? Sure, but big, nonstop blood. It keeps coming and coming and coming.

The same thing is true in life: Keep an eye on the big things (don't do the life equivalent of cutting your throat with a razor), but don't neglect the small things. Tell your wife or girlfriend you love her. Go to the doctor regularly. Change the oil in your car. Don't let the important things become the bleeding earlobe in your life, because you can bleed out from that little nick. Or at least look silly with toilet paper stuck to your ear.

3. Recognize progress, but make your own decisions. I started with disposable razors, then switched to electric razors because they seemed better. After a few years, I realized blades worked better for me – and now I use a razor. The point? I experimented, but I didn't fall for the new-is-always-better line.

Shaving teaches us the key to evaluating life: Don't always believe the hype. That may prevent you from buying that great new flawed computer, the motorcycle you don't need or hooking up with a woman at your workplace. Newer is different. Newer isn't always better. Make sure it's better before you change. (And even if you think the woman at the office is better than your wife, don't change. Stay with the razor that works for you.)

Shaving is life, life is shaving.

Although now I'm nervous that I'll nick my earlobe again.

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.