Dear brothers of the B&B community.
Hello. My name is Tony, and I'm an Aspie. You don't know it, but each and every one of you has helped me this past year and I thank you for it. This will be a very personal post and will probably be quite a long post, but this is the only forum I can actually properly talk about this. If nothing else, writing this out and thanking you all will make me happier.
Backstory: After ongoing severe difficulty with my university studies, I was referred to a psychologist who eventually diagnosed me with Asperger Syndrome (an autistic spectrum disorder), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, dyspraxia and some other things I won't go into at this time.
As one might expect with the above diagnoses, I have become incredibly obsessed with innumerable hobbies in my life time. These often occur rather spontaneously, find me totally absorbed in them for a period of time (often at a considerable personal expense, as is often the case when starting a new hobby) before losing interest after a few weeks (or rarely, a few months) and leaving whatever it is to gather dust at the back of my wardrobe. This includes home brewing, woodworking, making gadgets, creative pursuits, etc etc. You name it, I've probably had a crack at it and then lost interest.
Outside of my basic physiological mechanisms (breathing, eating, sleeping) and university, I can't think of a single thing that I have continued in for a significant period of time. Which brings me to the reason for this post. B&B and wetshaving.
For just over decade, I've needed to shave and like many of you out there, it was with cartridges and a viciously unpleasant experience. I would obsess over trying to get a close shave much to the detriment of my face, going from one cartridge razor to the next in the hope that this one would be the one that I could shave comfortably with to a point that I was satisfied. It was never the case.
My obsessions and continued scouring of the internet for a way to get a better shave ultimately led me here to B&B. It looked like I'd found exactly what I wanted, a style of shaving that would finally give me the results I want.
When I took the plunge and started acquiring the various bits and pieces that I needed, some of my friends and family and SWMBO rolled their eyes and thought that I was again wasting my money on something that I get bored of. And here I am, coming up to the one year anniversary of my first DE shave and still going strong.
For me personally, that is an incredible achievement.
Having a community like B&B that I could visit whenever the obsessive desires struck me has been blissful. It is rare that I find individuals, let alone such a large group of charming people, who are willing to discuss my obsessions in detail and at length. It's fairly common that the people in my life are, understandably, not as excited as I am by whatever my latest craze happens to be, and I find it quite difficult not being to talk it. With B&B, that has ceased to be a problem. It has probably also been beneficial to my loved ones, who are now no longer the unwilling listeners.
Studying, developing and honing my shaving technique has been a wonderful experience. I adore routines, and wetshaving has provided me with a hobby that is, if nothing else, pure routine. I love to carry out my prep, set up my razor, soak my brush and prepare my lather before I proceed with three passes of shaving. On top of that, my careful and meticulous nature massively enjoys the process of shaving. There are times when I am stressed or agitated, and simply retiring to the bathroom and having a shave can be incredibly relaxing and soothing for me.
Impulsivity is something I have struggled with a very long time. If I want something, I buy it. If I want to do something, I do it. My self restraint is incredibly weak. And it's no wonder that within the first month of being a wetshaver, I spent about £200 on razors, soaps and brushes. I couldn't help myself. And I know that's very common for the members here, that acquisition disorders come hand in hand with wetshaving. But for me, it was just another way to pour my money down the drain.
Until I started joining the restraints. For some reason, committing to not buying any shaving gear for a month on an internet forum has been effective. First I managed to go a month without buying anything. And then again, a few months later. And then joined the GRU Christmas and, as of this moment, am still in. I don't quite know why, but by adding my name to that list and promising not to buy any more gives me the self control I need. Would you know if I lied? Not a chance. Would it matter to me - absolutely.
Stemming from that, my uptake of new hobbies has decreased. And certainly, spending money on them is now very unusual. I am much more aware of the growing urges I have to start a new project and I have learnt more self control, and I can apply that which I gained from being a member here to my lifestyle. So, admittedly, I have started a number of projects over the past few months (and I've even completed a few of them!), but just the fact that I've managed to not empty my bank account in doing so is very big news for me.
Correction to a previous statement: smoking is a habit that I've had for many years - if only I could have gotten bored and moved on from that one quickly! I have tried to stop a few times and been very unsuccessful very quickly. So I decided to do a restraint. Could I not smoke for one week. Well done. Could I stop for two weeks? Well done, get a reward. And so on. I now haven't purchased cigarettes or tobacco in several months, and I know that the strength I needed for that has come from being a member here.
So it is you that I must thank. All of you, the members of this fantastic community, the fact that you are here and talking about these things provides me with a very safe place. I am getting better every day, and I will be eternally grateful to my brothers here at B&B for making me a better man - not just at shaving, but in life.
Thank you one and all.
Tony
Hello. My name is Tony, and I'm an Aspie. You don't know it, but each and every one of you has helped me this past year and I thank you for it. This will be a very personal post and will probably be quite a long post, but this is the only forum I can actually properly talk about this. If nothing else, writing this out and thanking you all will make me happier.
Backstory: After ongoing severe difficulty with my university studies, I was referred to a psychologist who eventually diagnosed me with Asperger Syndrome (an autistic spectrum disorder), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, dyspraxia and some other things I won't go into at this time.
As one might expect with the above diagnoses, I have become incredibly obsessed with innumerable hobbies in my life time. These often occur rather spontaneously, find me totally absorbed in them for a period of time (often at a considerable personal expense, as is often the case when starting a new hobby) before losing interest after a few weeks (or rarely, a few months) and leaving whatever it is to gather dust at the back of my wardrobe. This includes home brewing, woodworking, making gadgets, creative pursuits, etc etc. You name it, I've probably had a crack at it and then lost interest.
Outside of my basic physiological mechanisms (breathing, eating, sleeping) and university, I can't think of a single thing that I have continued in for a significant period of time. Which brings me to the reason for this post. B&B and wetshaving.
For just over decade, I've needed to shave and like many of you out there, it was with cartridges and a viciously unpleasant experience. I would obsess over trying to get a close shave much to the detriment of my face, going from one cartridge razor to the next in the hope that this one would be the one that I could shave comfortably with to a point that I was satisfied. It was never the case.
My obsessions and continued scouring of the internet for a way to get a better shave ultimately led me here to B&B. It looked like I'd found exactly what I wanted, a style of shaving that would finally give me the results I want.
When I took the plunge and started acquiring the various bits and pieces that I needed, some of my friends and family and SWMBO rolled their eyes and thought that I was again wasting my money on something that I get bored of. And here I am, coming up to the one year anniversary of my first DE shave and still going strong.
For me personally, that is an incredible achievement.
Having a community like B&B that I could visit whenever the obsessive desires struck me has been blissful. It is rare that I find individuals, let alone such a large group of charming people, who are willing to discuss my obsessions in detail and at length. It's fairly common that the people in my life are, understandably, not as excited as I am by whatever my latest craze happens to be, and I find it quite difficult not being to talk it. With B&B, that has ceased to be a problem. It has probably also been beneficial to my loved ones, who are now no longer the unwilling listeners.
Studying, developing and honing my shaving technique has been a wonderful experience. I adore routines, and wetshaving has provided me with a hobby that is, if nothing else, pure routine. I love to carry out my prep, set up my razor, soak my brush and prepare my lather before I proceed with three passes of shaving. On top of that, my careful and meticulous nature massively enjoys the process of shaving. There are times when I am stressed or agitated, and simply retiring to the bathroom and having a shave can be incredibly relaxing and soothing for me.
Impulsivity is something I have struggled with a very long time. If I want something, I buy it. If I want to do something, I do it. My self restraint is incredibly weak. And it's no wonder that within the first month of being a wetshaver, I spent about £200 on razors, soaps and brushes. I couldn't help myself. And I know that's very common for the members here, that acquisition disorders come hand in hand with wetshaving. But for me, it was just another way to pour my money down the drain.
Until I started joining the restraints. For some reason, committing to not buying any shaving gear for a month on an internet forum has been effective. First I managed to go a month without buying anything. And then again, a few months later. And then joined the GRU Christmas and, as of this moment, am still in. I don't quite know why, but by adding my name to that list and promising not to buy any more gives me the self control I need. Would you know if I lied? Not a chance. Would it matter to me - absolutely.
Stemming from that, my uptake of new hobbies has decreased. And certainly, spending money on them is now very unusual. I am much more aware of the growing urges I have to start a new project and I have learnt more self control, and I can apply that which I gained from being a member here to my lifestyle. So, admittedly, I have started a number of projects over the past few months (and I've even completed a few of them!), but just the fact that I've managed to not empty my bank account in doing so is very big news for me.
Correction to a previous statement: smoking is a habit that I've had for many years - if only I could have gotten bored and moved on from that one quickly! I have tried to stop a few times and been very unsuccessful very quickly. So I decided to do a restraint. Could I not smoke for one week. Well done. Could I stop for two weeks? Well done, get a reward. And so on. I now haven't purchased cigarettes or tobacco in several months, and I know that the strength I needed for that has come from being a member here.
So it is you that I must thank. All of you, the members of this fantastic community, the fact that you are here and talking about these things provides me with a very safe place. I am getting better every day, and I will be eternally grateful to my brothers here at B&B for making me a better man - not just at shaving, but in life.
Thank you one and all.
Tony
