I’m not exactly sure why I decided to do it this year, or how it happened, but the beard made it’s annual appearance. One. More. Time.

I get it. I didn’t just wake up one morning with hair on my face. While I don’t have a problem growing out the beard, it does take a little time – two weeks or so to be exact. That’s when thing get real, and when the grays decide to make their appearance.

I didn’t let peak beard get as thick as in year’s past. For one, I decided later than usual to start growing it out, and after 4 weeks, it got old fast. I find that it takes effort to maintain, and it just gets, well, uncomfortable.

I prefer keeping it shorter, or not having it all. I decided I would try keeping it shorter heading into 2023. How long will the experiment last? Hard to say, although I suspect I’ll be back to “normal” by February, March at the latest.

For those keeping score at home, here’s the shaved down look. And if you’re interested, here’s the history of the beard over the last 10 years.

• 2021 – It’s that time of the year
• 2020 – Here is grows again!
• 2019 – Oops, I did it again!
• 2018 – The end of Mo’vember
• 2012 – 2017 – Fear the Beard