My condolences for the bad news, and the associated pain with it. I know exactly what you mean by the calming effects and I'm glad that something soothed the soul during that difficult moment.

Not to compare my situation to yours, but to give you a "calming " story, I myself had a similar calming experience tonight. I've been having a situation at work that has been very stressful and today I almost lost my cool with some co workers over attitudes and sub-par performance that could end up costing the company quite a bit of money in the short & the long term.

On the ride home I was very wound up and disgusted with how the situation there has deteriorated and how it affected me. I got home still wound up to find my favorite razor back from Lynn freshly honed along with a box of goodies from SRD. Decided to practice some self-denial and took a 3 mile walk before indulging in the box opening ritual on "goodie arrival day." Got back from the walk and I opened the box to see that gorgeous edge glistening under the light. Took a hot shower and treated myself to an amazing shave with an edge that was -- if I said "scary sharp" -- would be doing it no justice. The whole experience was just out of this world: the quiet of the still hot bathroom, the whirling of the old shavemac brush I've had for over a decade whipping up the smell of the hot Speick lather, the sound of the blade on the face, the alum block followed by the ice cold barber towel from refrigerator, some QED Da Vinci water hydrosol finished up with some Speick aftershave left me with a baby's butt smooth face. The whole experience had me so relaxed that I was almost weak kneed leaving the bathroom and all I wanted to do was come lay on the couch and crash. No more nerves, no more problems, day is over. It's good to be home, and relaxing.

This is why I use a straight razor and this is why I wet shave.

I'm glad it had a therapeutic effect for you too in your time of problems.

Quote Originally Posted by Nubo View Post
Holding a 3-inch piece of surgically sharp steel to your throat does help concentrate the mind.

I am finding the practice to be an interesting confluence of Zen, science, art, craftsmanship, tradition, and the Human condition. There is a lot of "the World" concentrated where the steel and lather meet skin, and in the hand eye and mind of the shaver.
Well said. This is very true.