#15 - No Shaving

Challenge: No Shaving for one month.

I made it one month. It wasn’t pretty. In fact, it got downright ugly. (See exhibit A and exhibit B) I have never tried to grow out my facial hair because I don’t have the HPSI* as some men (and women) do. However, I can say I did it and know what it looks like in case the thought to grow a beard ever crosses my mind again.

Fun fact: My friend and I used to spray Rogaine on our faces every morning on the bus in high school because we wanted facial hair/side burns like Joe Mauer or Tom Selleck. No, it didn’t work. Still doesn’t.



Take-aways
1. You have to get used to what you’re given. I have wanted straight hair and a nice five o’ clock shadow, but I get curls and poorly placed whiskers. You may not love the way you look or how God made you, but rejecting it your whole life makes things worse. You have to embrace it. Just ask the X-Men or any super hero or Tim Allen in The Santa Clause.
2. It was nice to not have to shave twice a week. I used that extra time to straighten my hair.

*Hairs per square inch

NEXT CHALLENGE: Mirror, mirror on the wall, I will not look at you at all.

#14 - Glasses

Challenge: Wear glasses for one week.
This challenge started as a Halloween costume at work and became a week-long endeavor in solidarity with all other four-eyed creatures in the world. Technically, they weren’t spectacles, but rather white sunglasses with the lenses popped out. Many folks thought it was a fashion statement. For others, it confirmed their suspicion that I am a weirdy. I commend those who wear these seeing specs as they can be quite bothersome. They got crushed playing football and nearly melted in the sauna. They limit your peripheral vision and can make one’s face heavier. Nonetheless, I felt like I understood the agitation that poor vision can bring.

Take-aways:
1. Glasses are an extension of one’s body. People who wear them, like me, understand.
2. Some people, like me, look better with glasses.

Sincerely,
The 20/20 Hipster

#13 - Fruit and Veggies Only

Challenge: Eat fruits and vegetables only for one week.

I made it 5 days. The idea of not partaking in the smorgasbord at a family get together last weekend did not sit well with me or me tummy. It wasn’t worth “sevening.” Also, I had a cold all week and saw my doctor. He recommended not dieting/detoxing while sick as it can make sickness last longer. Still, I wussed out.

The hardest part of the five days was abstaining from sweets. I look forward to eating things that whet my pallet. When I cannot, I almost feel a void. I could not look forward to a malt in the evening or a burger when I’m out to eat. I realized how easy it is to become dependent on comfort foods. I do, however, enjoy eating vegetables and fruits and had no problem eating an abundance of them over my five day stretch. I felt better and had more energy. I also think my organs offered up an audible thank you now and then.

Take-aways
1. Eating is one of the great pleasures in life. Tucking into a juicy burger or a delicious bowl of ice cream can be a real joy.
2. Food ≠ Happiness. Yes food can be awesome, but it’s not cool to be dependent on it for joy.

NEXT CHALLENGE – ONE MONTH LONG: NO SHAVING

#12 - Holding an Item

Challenge: Hold an item in my hand for a week

The item I chose was a guitar pick. It was small enough and easy enough to hold while still being able to do most things easily. So I thought. Typing was difficult, as was eating. I wore a batting glove to keep it in my hand during softball. That’s the level of commitment I have to this. I was always fighting the urge to put it down because that’s a natural reaction when you have something in your hands and then you need to use your hands.


Model shown above

The week had a flow of emotions related to this little pick. The week started off with thoughts of ‘this isn’t that hard’ which turned into ‘this is getting a little annoying’ to ‘this is ridiculous, why am I doing this’ to ‘annoyed.’ There came a time later in the week when I set it down for some reason and forgot about it. Then I saw it sitting there. By itself. Alone. Not in my hand. I picked it up with a feeling like I’ve let down a friend. There was an attachment to it that had set in. That, however, wore off quickly and it became, once again, annoying. I didn’t make it a whole week as I completely forgot about it over the weekend.

No Takeaways. There wasn’t really a purpose to this one other than a friend suggested it.
There is no real benefit to this challenge. FYI

NEXT CHALLENGE: ONLY FRUITS & VEGETABLES

#11 - Standing At Work

Challenge: Standing at work. All day.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re sitting down, which means you’re probably digging yourself an early grave. That's what I've learned at least. After examining the lifestyles of more than 17,000 men and women over 13 years, a recent report found those who sit for most of the day were 54% more likely to die of heart attacks.



Since graduating college and being a workin' man, I've definitely been less active. I decided a change would be well-received by my heart. So I had my desk permanently raised. It wasn't too difficult for a week, especially since I sit enough during the occassional meeting during the day.

Take-aways:
1. My feet hurt. I made an appointment with Dr. Scholls
2. It's awesome not to have to get up to leave my desk. Yep, I just stay standing and move my legs to where I want to go.
3. Standing and eating is weird.

NEXT CHALLENGE: HOLDING AN ITEM IN MY HAND ALL WEEK

#10 - No Clocks

Challenge: Not looking at a clock

For decades, scientists have believed that the brain possesses an internal clock that allows it to keep track of time. A UCLA study and I have confirmed this to be true.

Analogy: If you toss a pebble into a lake, the ripples of water produced by the pebble's impact act like a signature of the pebble's entry time. The farther the ripples travel, the more time has passed. A similar process takes place in the brain that allows it to track time. Every time the brain processes a sensory event, such as a sound or flash of light, it triggers a cascade of reactions between brain cells and their connections. Each reaction leaves a signature that enables the brain cell network to encode time.

I was able to keep time in my head, from meetings that always occur at the same time each week, to the siren testing happening at 1pm, to the location of the sun. I did ask people once in a while the time.

Take-aways:
1. Managing mine time was difficult when I didn’t exactly know it.
2. I found myself either early or late to things and felt like the day moved extremely slow.
3. It was nice not to feel responsible and have a good excuse for being late. Sometimes, I think we’d all be better off living in a world without time.

NEXT CHALLENGE: STANDING AT WORK

#9 - MEET MANY PEOPLE

Challenge: Meet lots of strangers

People I met this week:
Adam – at a wedding, musician
Jill – Adam’s wife, works with Kristin
Katelyn – Kristin’s co-worker
Dan – Groom’s drunk brother
Will – smart dude, Katelyn’s hubby
Teegan – Kristin’s co-worker
Erica – Kristin’s boss
Matt – Groom at wedding
Brittany – Bride at wedding we played music in, Kristin’s former boss
Dawn – HealthPartners co-worker, really helpful door opener
Greg – talked fantasy football in The Local’s bathroom
Bridget – Librarian at Ridgedale, helped me pick out good movies
Cassandra – stellar hairstylist, from Portland
Beth – wine making genius, helped me with my first batch
Adam – guy on lightrail, talked Apple shop
Amber – subway sandwich artist
Claudia – subway sandwich artist
Tom – Tony’s friend, talked winemaking
Stacy and Jenna – Tony’s friends, now my friends
Oscar – new apartment caretaker
Nikolas – Oscar’s little boy

Take-aways
1. Trying to make friends in my adult life is way more enjoyable than making friends elementary or junior high.
2. Choosing to be friendly and meet new people has positive effects in so many ways.
3. Dale Carnegie was really right on about human nature (see How to Win Friends and Influence People)

NEXT CHALLENGE: NOT USING A CLOCK