So, during the very early learning phase, when-at least by some people's reckoning- one should confine ones attempts to sideburn/cheek areas, how do you manage to contain your enthusiasm?

I grabbed a freshly honed dovo last night and for the first time touched razor to cheek. the idea was just to see how sharp this thing really was. After a touch or two, I felt compelled to lather a little-just a little! I'm not shaving. no really!-under my sideburns. I successfully whacked some whiskers off and put clean edge on a sideburn. Well, I couldn't leave it at that, so I did the same on the other side. Just for symmetry, ya know.

Well, I couldn't have my sideburns and the area directly under them all cleanshaven without the rest, right? I mean, really, who could sleep knowing that they're only 10% shaved? So I lathered a little more, shaved a little more. then started cleaning up around the goatee. And then it happened. The combination of addicted rush and overconfidence. I'm a Natural!

not so much. Like the greeks tried so hard to teach us, hubris precedes the fall... So impressed with my native ability with a good blade, I rounded the bottom of my jaw, stopped thinking for a second and drew the blade parallel to its edge, nicely burying it in the soft spot beneath my jaw. whoops!

Of course, I'll try again tonight. (I think this post inadvertantly answered a question posed by another user: What's WRONG with us?)

so, back to the question. If the steel actually embedding itself beneath my skin won't give me patience, what will? How do you convince yourself that a little success is a good place to stop? or should I just give in to my shaving compulsion and give up self control?

Bill