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Will I always be a beginner?
I read an older post that talked about always feeling like a beginner and always learning new things. It said don't worry about labels. But who really wants to be a beginner forever. Not me. I don't mind learning new things that is what makes this fun.
So maybe I can graduate to novice if I get someone else addicted to straight razor shaving?
Depends!
If you use one razor, one brush, one strop, one bowl for your shaving life you will be very proficient.
Have a bad RAD, brush, or soap buying disorder and you'll always be learning.
I view traditional shaving as a journey where everyone starts as a beginner, but hopefully never stops discovering new things; be that soap or cream, razors, or more importantly subtle improvements in technique.
It's the journey that matters, not the starting point.
Think Pablo Casals, the then world's foremost cellist, who at 81 replied to the question why he was practicing every day 4-5 hours: "Because I think I am making progress."
B.
If you aren't learning, you aren't doing something right.
Maybe not "forever a beginner" but instead "forever a student".
In this mornings shave I learned something new about how to do my first pass that made allot of difference in the outcome, so sometimes subtle adjustments can be important.
Given the variables, the amount of knowledge available, and if we include honing then I know most certainly that I can spend the rest of my life learning, razors, technique, soaps, stones.
What an interesting and wonderful journey.
Confucius say: Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
New situations cause you to learn and become more proficient. It applies to everything in life. You make mistakes and they teach you too.
Forever a beginner is merely a personal state of mind; though I will state that reading this forum for a couple years I am continually in awe of the wealth of knowledge. Comparatively I may always feel as though I am a beginner, but personal growth is how I will judge myself. I will learn from those before me but judge not by what they have done but by my own progress. Learn, grow, be inspired; but not discouraged.
Which is why any acquisition order should be professionally treated and not cheered upon. Give a beginner one full piece of kit, and he will be happy. Make him "branch out" (or whatever the hype du jour is), and you will make him depended on people with more supplies. Which, I think, is a terribly wrong thing to do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scareface
I would not say a perpetual beginner but with a new razor design; new tecnique; new to honing; and so on you keep learning new things. I would say after about a year of shaving str8 you can say you are a seasoned str8 shaver!
I am only 3 months into this str8 shaving and am absorbing all the information I can and will attend meets to get more tips. But after a year I will say I am seasoned enough to then give pointers to newbies and make suggestions beyond just my shopping sources.
That said I used a new str8 this morning which has a french point rather than a round point like I have been. So I am new to that razor! It bit into me once and I knew it real quick! Not the point but the blade itself! First time I have done that. I was feeling froggy I think and it put me back in check real quick!
So keep up shaving and learning and find what works for your face and then get the technique and hand control down then proclaim....."I am a seasoned str8 shaver!"
Have fun and keep shaving!
It's just like learning any other specialized skill... The more you know, the more you realize what you don't know. Some days you'll feel like and old pro and some days you'll feel like a beginner. Your only a beginner until after you take the first step.
Pete <:-}
RRae, do you have a desire to be a senior honemeister or an authority on all things shaving? If you don't, then don't feel any pressure to do anything you don't want to! Just enjoy your SR shaving journey. There's no pressure here!
I've been str8ing since 1988 at 17 yrs. Old didn't know any thing then and not much more till just last December. All I had was a ugly vintage Torrey,1000.220 stone from grandpa and a wore out leather belt and very little knowledge how to use it. But since the web and this incredible site I now have the knowledge that I should have for the yrs. I've been str8ing
Thanks for all the encouraging and thoughtful responses. I'm grateful to be a part of a supportive group of people. Especially after reading outbacks story. If this site wasn't around I would have bought a gold dollar razor like I was planning and that was going to be it. No strop. Luckily I ran across SRP and did my research. Finally got a good razor and a strop from SRD.
I've come to the conclusion that in life and straight razor shaving. We should always keep learning that is how we grow. No label should define us. How I perceive and carry myself is what matters to me.