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November 14, 2013

Razor Sharp

63 Comments/ 3102/ 0

P1150673Not long ago I made a discovery.   One that many of you ladies out there already have mastered but one that in my altered state of early morning fog with too little coffee surging through my veins had to be re-learned.

Shaving is much more effective and efficient if you take the little plastic protector off of the razor in advance.  Yep—that was me.  Wondering why the razor was not cutting through the forest on my legs.  Upon closer inspection I discovered that that pesky little plastic guard was still in place.  Things went much smoother after that.

I know that there is at least one lesson in that little experience and I am trying to discern what it is.

Am I like a razor with the plastic guard on?  Do I try to shield myself from the world?

Do I try to hide my sharp edges from others in case they do not like what they see?

Do I hide who I really am?

Am I not willing to take a stand for things I believe in because they might seem too sharp and offensive to others?

Do I worry about being too blunt with others?

Maybe a little bit of all of these.

Life can be so much more rewarding if we allow ourselves to be who we are meant to be.  Imperfections and all.  That means taking away the “protector” and allowing ourselves to be real and authentic.

Is it risky?  Yes.  A little bit.

Is it worth it?

Maybe I need to take that protector off a little more often and experience life full on.  No buffer.

Letting my guard down.

Bring it on.

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63 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. CMSmith
    November 14, 2013 at 07:18 am

    Good analogy Beth Ann.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 07:21 am

      Thank you, Christine! Hope all is well with you!

      Reply
  2. Hilary Grossman (@feelingbeachie)
    November 14, 2013 at 07:22 am

    I think we all keep the little plastic on.. sometimes…

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 07:24 am

      It feels safe, doesn’t it—-especially after we have been hurt.

      Reply
  3. Pix Under the Oaks
    November 14, 2013 at 08:25 am

    I need a filter or little plastic guard.. sometimes.. or it would not be pretty.. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 08:27 am

      Haha!!! Yea, I hear ya on that one. Filters are sometimes good, too.

      Reply
  4. Carol H. Rives
    November 14, 2013 at 08:59 am

    Awww…. the little mishaps that point out the big lessons! Great job with the strong analogy, Beth Ann. I’m so glad that I fixed the technical glitch that kept me from receiving your email notification, whatever it was. Your post was sitting in my inbox this a.m. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 09:03 am

      Yippee! Thanks for being persistent!!!

      Reply
  5. elinwaldal
    November 14, 2013 at 09:09 am

    Nice post. The key is knowing where it is: in an environment where it’s needed its good to know it can be snapped back on. I am reminded of a time when I reached into my travel kit, a razor was in there without the cover and it sliced open my fingers. Had I been more vigilant my fingers would have been safe to dig in the bag.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 10:04 am

      Very good point!!! Very good point!! I am surprised that was not me—I am a bit accident prone to put it mildly!

      Reply
  6. Transitioning Mom
    November 14, 2013 at 09:10 am

    Love this! What a great analogy! Off to share.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 10:03 am

      Thanks so much!!! I appreciate it!

      Reply
  7. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    November 14, 2013 at 09:12 am

    File this one away in your “devotionals that will be published someday (soon).” You and I need to chat about that topic sometime (soon).

    Excellent analogy and excellent insights. Your mind amazes me, how it works sometimes. Imagine if you’d had your coffee…

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 10:03 am

      Thanks, Audrey! My mind amazes myself—you should hear some of my dreams….:-)

      Reply
  8. Kathryn McCullough
    November 14, 2013 at 10:12 am

    Okay, Beth Ann I adore this post–not only because I have been known to do the same, but because I love the metaphor. Really fun. Gotta share this one!

    Hugs from Ecuador,
    Kathy

    Reply
    1. Crowing Crone Joss
      November 14, 2013 at 10:25 am

      Thanks for sharing on FB Kathy. Made me laugh AND think – that’s a great combination.

      Reply
      1. Beth Ann
        November 14, 2013 at 10:40 am

        Yay!!! Thanks for the sweet comment and for following me!!!! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 10:41 am

      Thanks so much, Kathy! You are my own personal cheerleader today!

      Reply
  9. Chatter Master
    November 14, 2013 at 10:20 am

    I found you thanks to Kathy. Glad I did. I pray for the courage to take my plastic shield off. Sometimes I even manage to do it. Fantastic post.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 10:41 am

      Thank you so very much!!! I am thrilled to meet you!!!!! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

      Reply
      1. Chatter Master
        November 14, 2013 at 02:06 pm

        🙂 You’re welcome!

        Reply
  10. poemsandponderings
    November 14, 2013 at 11:46 am

    Ha, my wife had the same problem, only a vegetable peeler was the culprit.. “This thing stinks, it doesn’t peel anything, I’m going back to the paring knife!” Having seen other people use these comfortable devices, I checked it out, and yup, the plastic protector was still on the blades.. lol..

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 11:54 am

      Did she really??? Her name must be Beth! Oh wait–it is!!! I still use a paring knife—-never have liked veggie peelers!!!

      Reply
      1. poemsandponderings
        November 15, 2013 at 12:30 am

        She still uses the paring knife too, I’ll use the peeler when I have to peel anything, it just seems faster and less wasteful to me..

        Reply
        1. Beth Ann
          November 15, 2013 at 07:58 am

          I can never get used to a peeler. I have tried them all!!!

          Reply
  11. zerotosixtyinoneyear
    November 14, 2013 at 02:02 pm

    Can we be more effective if we take off the protective shield? Probably–and we’re able to get closer and feel more while we’re at it. Nice post!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 02:20 pm

      Thanks so much for the comment and bloggy love!!! I appreciate it a lot!!!!

      Reply
  12. Helen Brown
    November 14, 2013 at 03:05 pm

    I was afraid you had really cut yourself with the razor. Good thing I read on.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 03:21 pm

      You know me so well! For once this wasn’t the case.

      Reply
  13. runesandrhinestones
    November 14, 2013 at 04:23 pm

    I was just expecting a silly post (and it did make me smile), but then you followed up with a proper punch of a post. I have definitely done both parts of this – both the daft things in the early morning, and been overly protective of myself and others. I muchly approve!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 04:51 pm

      Well thank you very much for the great comment!!! I muchly approve of having you stop by! Please come back anytime!!!

      Reply
  14. Aussa Lorens
    November 14, 2013 at 05:23 pm

    Okay– the razor thing is something I would totally do. And I would probably get all angry like “this is the dumbest razor ever, I’m going to write a letter to this company and/or blast them on social media!” …all when it was my bad.

    That being said… Becoming more forward, blunt, and sticking up for yourself is probably always a good thing– as long as you maintain compassion and don’t become a sociopath about it 😉 No one likes a sociopath. Except for codependent people and screenwriters and no one likes those people either. Okay I’m a little codependent. Stopping now.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 14, 2013 at 05:33 pm

      Hahaha. And that is why I am so glad we are row mates over at YeahWrite—because I need a few more codependent people in my life and you are refreshing!!!! Don’t’ stop!

      Reply
      1. Aussa Lorens
        November 14, 2013 at 11:01 pm

        Haha codependents, unite! (that sounds healthy……)

        Reply
  15. Allison Spruill
    November 14, 2013 at 09:02 pm

    Such a crazy day that I just realized I hadn’t read your blog and commented today! Is it strange that my thought while reading it was that maybe it means, “Be yourself just as you are, natural and hairy!” LOL 🙂 (It is feeling like winter, you know!)

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 15, 2013 at 07:59 am

      It is winter definitely. About 28 degrees this morning….brrrr.

      Reply
  16. Kim
    November 14, 2013 at 11:54 pm

    Definitely have to agree this is a great analogy. When I’m around people I know will get me, I’m more likely to let my guard down and be my real self. When I was in a group of local female bloggers, many (most?) despised my real self: Snarky, blunt, tell it like it is. My confidence went bye bye. I removed myself from that environment and started searching for people who appreciated the real me, not a Stepford Wife version of me (trust me, that’s scary). Doing much better now, thankfully, and also having a lot more fun.

    Reply
  17. likeitiz
    November 15, 2013 at 12:55 am

    Great analogy! The plastic needs to come off!

    P.S. BTW, I waxed for about 5 years. That was about 35 years ago. I have not had any regrowth on my legs since! Yep.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 15, 2013 at 07:58 am

      Wow—that is amazing! Perhaps I should check into that!!!! That is great benefit of waxing!!!

      Reply
  18. pattisj
    November 15, 2013 at 01:21 am

    Another lesson learned! 😉

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 15, 2013 at 07:48 am

      I have a lot of them!

      Reply
      1. pattisj
        November 15, 2013 at 09:38 am

        LOL

        Reply
  19. TBM
    November 15, 2013 at 03:43 am

    Great lesson. it’s better if I leave the guard on the razor. man I am horrible at shaving. Nicks, cuts, and pain. I hate when water touches the cut and then shaving cream gets into it. thank goodness it’s winter!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 15, 2013 at 07:48 am

      My thoughts exactly about winter!!! Jeans and leggings are a good thing!

      Reply
  20. MT
    November 15, 2013 at 07:50 am

    An interesting inward observation over a razor cover. Just go electric – wonder how that would affect your reflections?

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 15, 2013 at 07:55 am

      I imagine it would dull them a lot! 🙂

      Reply
  21. McGuffy Ann
    November 15, 2013 at 08:19 am

    I think you are intelligent and know when and how to use tact and discretion. We need more people like you.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 15, 2013 at 08:27 am

      Ah..thanks McGuffy Ann!!! Such kind words!!! I appreciate them a lot!!! Hope your day is fabulous!

      Reply
  22. Rorybore
    November 15, 2013 at 11:35 am

    An excellent analogy…….and also, thanks for reminding me that I am definitely overdue to shave my legs!
    But I also wrote a recent post about standing up for what you believe, who you are. I am a big believer in being authentic.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 15, 2013 at 01:03 pm

      I totally agree that being who you are meant to be, taking a stand and not backing down from it is very important. It just got me thinking, you know? Thanks for the comment!

      Reply
  23. Saundra Shultz
    November 15, 2013 at 05:47 pm

    Be yourself.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 15, 2013 at 06:37 pm

      I try!

      Reply
  24. My Odd Family
    November 15, 2013 at 09:51 pm

    Safety shaver day is December 2. I will link to this post since it is cutting edge and razor sharp and darn good AND have you seen this http://oddlovescompany.com/2010/02/shave-the-underbrush-the-tree-looks-taller/

    Reply
    1. My Odd Family
      November 15, 2013 at 09:52 pm

      Hang on the video disappeared —I will repost.

      Reply
    2. My Odd Family
      November 15, 2013 at 09:57 pm

      Sorry it is GONE. Posted in 2010—So funny but maybe not to everyone :-/

      Reply
    3. Beth Ann
      November 16, 2013 at 08:25 am

      So what happened to it???? Hmmm. There is actually a safety shaver day? Good grief. You know all that stuff. You would get along well with my hubby who is the king of facts!!!

      Reply
  25. Adrienn
    November 16, 2013 at 11:16 am

    This was a really nice post! As I get older I become more genuine to who I am, and am less guarded when I speak. I hate drama, and am not afraid to tell someone the truth, even if it’s something they won’t want to hear. I stopped by from the SITS Saturday Sharefest! Have a great weekend! -Adrienn/This Uncomplicated Journey

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 16, 2013 at 11:22 am

      Thanks for stopping by, Adrienn! I really appreciate it. I really appreciate it when there are a zillion links to choose from on SITS and mine was one you picked to read. Will head over to see what your Uncomplicated Journey is all about!!! Thanks again!

      Reply
  26. benzeknees
    November 16, 2013 at 08:00 pm

    I think you should start waxing your legs, dear Beth Ann. After just 2 years of waxing about once a month and menopause, I have virtually hairless legs. I don’t have to worry about shaving at all – ever! No need to ponder about sharp edges either! Hahaha

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 16, 2013 at 09:01 pm

      I don’t have much leg hair actually–thank goodness. Waxing scares me…it took me until I was 50 to wax my eyebrows. 🙂

      Reply
      1. benzeknees
        November 19, 2013 at 01:03 pm

        It is so much easier on your legs Beth Ann because your leg skin is nowhere near as sensitive as the skin of your face. What I always liked was that every time you waxed less came back so eventually it just stops growing there!

        Reply
  27. Kristi
    November 19, 2013 at 06:27 pm

    Great life lesson gleaned from an early morning overlook. Wonder what lesson I could come up with for those days I condition my hair before I wash it…

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      November 19, 2013 at 06:51 pm

      Haha!! I have been there, too. Or putting conditioner on as face wash! Just got the sequence out of order.

      Reply

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