By June Bates

At what age did you give up shaving everything? I'm 17 and considering it but I'm hesitant because I'm REALLY hairy and I'm kinda afraid of what I'll look like completely untrimmed

Last year in June. That would make it 20 years old. Don’t worry, honestly. I go swimming every weekend now, something I never thought I’d be able to do only a few months ago. And here I am. And believe me, everything is unshaved - armpits, legs, bikini line, all of it on show. Happy trail. You name it. It’s not as bad as you think. In fact it’s not bad at all. It’s very liberating! You also learn something very important which might be distantly somewhere in your mind, but not really present until you do it. That your body is your own body! If it were as hairy as a bear - surely that should be your perogative right? Why does it concern anyone else? It’s like eating lunch and worrying someone else won’t like what you’re having. LOL.

17 is great! (Any age is great) This is an investment, begin to believe in yourself now, and it doesn’t matter how steady you go, or even if you stop - as long as you don’t go backwards, you’ll be way past me at 20 and you’ll be glad you took off the shackles. I remember while doing this, many MANY times, I reluctantly decided to hide myself when I had the opportunity to show it. And I hated myself for being ashamed and hiding it, but you know what I would have hated 100x more? If I had shaved for other people’s opinions when I didn’t want to. So I held on, as stagnant and as stuck as it felt, I said to myself I’d rather die than have one hair on my body shaven off because I’m scared. I ended up hiding a lot more than I thought, but then you know what happened? One time I showed it. And then I showed it again. And again. And now? I’m swimming with it all out there. It might take a little while, but it’s lasting. The feeling you get when you realise how free you are is addictive, and when you feel it you’ll thank yourself, and wonder how bizarre life would be if you continued caring so much what other people think. :) Not only that but you realise how incredibly insignificant it is. And despite it maybe taking a while to get to that confident stage (though for you it might not take months, it could be weeks, or days, whatever) when it does happen, it’ll be one of the most instantly gratifying things you’ll remember, and it will be gratifying every, single, time. That you’re you. And no one can change that.

And I know because you’re young you’re worried about the social effects as well, even if you do accept yourself. Believe me all that happens naturally. During the time I stopped shaving everything (so a few months ago) I applied for a job through Facebook as there was no other way to do it and my cover photo was one of my photography photos showing my armpit hair, and I got a call, and I got the job a week later. Even though I thought, oh God they’ll think I’m a weird, still, I thought well there’s nothing to lose. And I was actually so surprised. So then instantly all my colleagues knew about it through that - no one said a thing. We went out a lot, had drinks together, we were cool. Some people met me before they saw my Facebook, and we were really cool with each other, then they saw it, and they didn’t act any differently. Similarly because of that, a lot of people from Uni found out that way even through the times I was scared to show it. Girls from class came up to me saying they were shocked at how brave and courageous I am, and they really think that’s awesome. I like learning languages and many times through online I come across people I can Skype with to practice the language more. These being many guys from Japan who are my age, who have then added me on social network and seen that, and didn’t even say a thing about it, and we still chat just like before. The only one who mentioned it, said he thought it was really cool.

The point I’m trying to make is, things just gradually happen on its own, and people don’t care as much as you think. If they do, it simply means they’re shallow dickheads, and that’s a very clear sign not to hang out with that person. Therefore if anything it’s a good way of seeing who actually cares about you, and who is actually a cool down to earth person.

I’m not saying there’s no more difficulties I am not personally facing, but with the way it’s gone, to have done as much as I have, and discovered as much as I have, in a period of say 8 months - that is incredible. If that’s not hopeful, I don’t know what is.

If you’re ‘REALLY’ hairy as you say, then come over and we’ll be super hairy together LOL because you’re not alone.

An accurate description of what a period is. #periodssuck #notably #hurtslikehell #accurate #whymustibeagirl

I'm told by more then a few that I'm damm good at it.

We need better sex ed because I didn’t know that periods that cause excruciating pain, among other things wasn’t normal. I didn’t learn about the many common problems people could encounter from menstruating from sex ed. I learned it from the internet.

- anonymous

Heard some important information on Twitter today, and thought I’d post it here for anyone who may not have heard it. This is actually a thing, devised by human rights organisation called Karma Nirvana.

Reblog to save a life?

“You're the only one who can hold your head up high

Shake your fist at the gates saying

"I've come home now!"

Fetch me the Spirit, the Son, and the Father

Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended

It's time now

My time now

Give me my

Give me my wings!”

“10,000 Days (Wings Pt. 2)”

-Maynard James Keenan

RIP Betty 🌹 You were an amazing Woman who brought light, laughter, comfort, love and so much more to so many of us. A true advocate for all animals, and a wonderful spirit that shined so brightly. Sleep well Betty, you’ve earned your peaceful rest. 🌹

January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021