I’ve never had a beard of any sort. Ever since I started shaving (at an age I can’t remember), I’ve trimmed my facial hair every day or two. But over the past several days, I’ve decided to try out a beard for my sabbatical. Part of this is because I dropped and broke my electric razor the other day, but part of it is about something else, too.
Sabbatical is a time for rethinking things, building new patterns, and getting the natural rhythm of life back. It’s a time to set aside some of the things that get in the way of enjoying and living life to the fullest. For me, this beard experiment is a good reminder of all this. It’s a tangible reminder that my life is different for the next two months, and it gives me a chance to try something new.
I don’t know if I’ll keep the beard even through the whole sabbatical – it seems like the summer months might be a bit warm for this project! – but right now starting this feels like the perfect way to honor these days of rest, renewal, and reconnecting.