new thread
This will probably come as no great shock to anybody who has been here for the last year or more. You know I have been growing increasing ambivalent about my long hair in that time and that I had cut off over a yearÂ’s worth of growth a few months ago. Over these last few months I had given myself plenty of time to regain my passion for long hair that I had when I first came here. I have been battling a severe illness during this time and no doubt that is a factor in why I lost the interest in long hair.
The interest never returned so yesterday I made the fateful decision and cut my long hair. That was the easy part as I really didn't like it at all by then. Harder still is saying goodbye to all of you guys and this part of my life which was of great importance at one time, and will always be remembered as a terrific experience! I really appreciated the chance to work with all of you and I am glad I had the chance to moderate this wonderful board and give back something since I had gotten so much from the MLHH.
I still think long hair looks great on some guys, sadly I wasn't one of them. I wish you all and the MLHH at large the best and may this place live forever!
Thank you all for being a part of my life when I really needed it, you have helped me more than you know, and I don't mean hair :)
You guys are all terrific and I hate to leave but it is a long hair site and I am a heretic :) Even though my hair interest has waned I would love to stay in contact with you guys as friends nonetheless so don't feel I am turning away from you guys, just my own long hair :) I would love to stay in contact with any of you as would like to fraternize with a shorthair, and hopefully get a chance to meet you sometime. Hair is after all only part of what this place is about and friendship to me was the far larger part.
The good news is that although far from being in ideal health I am doing much better than I was for all of last year and I am hoping for more progress still.
Thank you all again, take care all and best of luck to you on your hair journeys!
ChrisG
its all good Chris :), you always have a friend in me brother your one good guy in my book!
Hey thanks Mark, you too!
Good luck with your growing out and your classes too. You are off to a fine start dude, go for what you want and don't let anything stand in your way :)
Take care my friend,
ChrisG
I may still hang around the chat room sometime unless you guys hang out a "Your hair must be this long to enter" sign :)
Although I thought that you had amazing hair, the important thing is that you're happy and living a good life. Hopefully you will stay with us because although you're a "short hair" I'm sure you can still help and give out your advice and opinions.
Even though you consider yourself a short hair you still have longer hair than I do hah!
Thanks for the kind words DiO. Hey you'll be a longhair before you know it. I never thought I would reach that stage but one day it happened and I was what I had only imagined being before, a longhair. But one thing I have learned here is that being a longhair is a state of mind. Having the dream is enough in my mind to consider you a longhair! It just may take a bit longer to show others :)
ChrisG
We all have to make tough decisions, and it has most certainly been a pleasure to have you here, Chris. May you have brighter and happier days ahead, and hopefully someday you will be able to return again. Until then, best of luck and stay well, Chris. =)
-James
Thank you so much for all your kind words, now and in so many of my previous updates when I needed the encouragement! I must admit that part of me is hoping to get the interest I had back, even if I have to start over again! But for now I cannot force it, I will do what I can to get better and let things happen as they will.
Good luck to you to James, not only with your hair journey, but also your classes and your quest to be a pilot. The diversity of interests here always fasinates me! I am sure you will astound us all with your successes in all these areas :)
Take care James,
ChrisG
Chris - We have a saying around here "Once a longhair, always a longhair." One can never undo the experience.
I wish you the best in the upcoming years!
Ed
Thank you so much Ed, I remember you were among the first to welcome me way back when I first came here in 2005. I may not care for longhair on myself at the moment but that doesn't mean I have lost my appreciation for its artistic quality and respect for the man who tends it and keeps it against all adversity. In that respect you are correct Ed, I will never be able to look at longhair again without reflecting on the good that came from my own experience with it and now I have much respect for all of you longhairs!
I'm sad to see you go, Chris, but I know the decision to cut your hair wasn't made lightly. You've fought some hard battles during the time that I've known you on the board, and I wish you the best of luck in the future.
Best wishes my dark Irish friend,
Mouse
Hi Mouse
You are right in that this was no easy choice to make for me. It was many months of back and forth, hoping against hope that this loss of feeling for longhair was only temporary and that I might regret cutting my hair once I did so. To tell you the truth I wasn't even so sure I would mind cutting my hair and then later being sorry I did it. That way I would know I had the interest back.
It didn't happen and I wasn't sorry so I guess it all depends on how you look at it. I guess I was in a win-win situation then. Or would be except I know that even now there are many other things that I still have no interest in that I used to love. I am still hopeful that I will recover further and all these things may yet return, even the hair thing. If it does you all here at MLHH will be the first to know!
I may hang out some in the chat room occasionally as even when I had long hair I never talked about hair much anyway, as everyone knows lol.
Other people have thought maybe there is a place for me yet as I have had at least had long hair in the past. I will see how that works out as I would think it awkward for a shorthair to talk to an aspiring longhair. Somehow I don't do if I would be convincing. If that works maybe this former Catholic turned atheist can start posting on a catholic website LOL!
I didn't post to your last update Mouse but your gorgeous redhair is astounding! This Irishman is a sucker for red hair, I wish I had some myself :)
Hopefully will catch you in the chat sometime
Your apostate friend :)
ChrisG
Hey Chris,
Being true to yourself is all that matters, my friend, --- and if the attached pic you shared here is your most recent haircut-length, then I'd say your hair is FAR from, "short!"
I posted a thread on the topic of "Medium-length" a few weeks ago, in fact... Don't know if you read it at all; but, essentially in it I was just voicing my encouragement to anyone thinking of cutting to consider some compromise-length (instead of literally back to the super-short styles of the "traditional male" look)...
In any case... You look GREAT!!
Please do NOT be a stranger! You have given so much to this community. Don't think for a moment that your pespective is not valuable. If it helps you at all in realizing how seriously I mean this, then please consider how I first felt encouraged to grow my hair out in the first place: it was a SHORT-HAIRED boss that first said to me back in '92: "you'd look really good if you grew your hair out long enough to have a ponytail!" This was loooooooong before I ever came across MLHH, of course (in fact, this place didn't even exist back then, I think); but, that encouragement was all I needed to convince me to "go for it!" It was unlikely encouragement from an unlikely source; but, I've never forgotten it (and just look at what happened as a result of his comment - lol)!!
Take care, Chris, --- and my best to you.... ALWAYS!!!
- Ken
Hey Ken I really want to thank you for all your kindness now and from the first postings I made that seem so very long ago now. You were always one of the biggest cheerleaders for longhair and always encouraging the newbies like I was to pursue their dream. You have certainly more than repaid the debt to those who encouraged you! :)
Ken I did indeed see the post you did on medium length hair and as at that point I had already scheduled my hair cut I was sorely tempted to post right then and there but I thought better of it and wanted to only post when the deed was done and I knew what I thought at that point and had a picture to show! But I was tempted LOL! I couldn't agree more with you, I suppose I have always loved kind of shaggy looking hair. What I have now (the picture I just posted) was what I would have considered long at one point, and I suppose it is compared to some ultra conservative hairstyles which I have never liked lol.
For me sometime in the last few months I realized I didn't like the way my own hair just hung there on me, it had no wave, no body no nothing. I find that for me long hair makes my hair less interesting as its own weight drags what little body it has right out of it. I actually think my hair looks more full and interesting this way. I suppose I am more interested in whether hair compliments my face or not and I truly didn't think I looked good as a whole with longer hair.
It was a tough choice, always harder when you have much invested in it as anyone who has grown out long hair can testify. I didn't regret cutting my hair, what I regret is the loss of the passion I had for it in the first place. But these things aren't a choice they either are there or not. Perhaps mine will return someday, until then I will proceed without it.
My best to you and Even, Ken. You're the greatest!
Hi Chris,
You made the decision you needed to make and I think there is nothing to be sad about. You tried long hair, came to the conclusion it was not for you, and did what you had to do.
The best part is that you are healthier and feeling better. Should you decide to regrow your hair, then all the better. It's not like your moving to a different planet and you'll never be able to post again. Heresy, not really -- if the photo is after your cut, then your technically still one of the long hair brethren as that's a far cry from a short back and sides, typical male hair cut.
Hair or no hair, posting or not posting, for you to have improved how you feel, to beleive that you are continuing to improve, that is the best news of all, nothing sad about it. I can still e-mail you all day long. Heck, if you post here you'll still have longer hair than some among us!!!
Best to you and yours, and good to hear from you,
Matt B.
Thank you Matt you are quite a well spoken gentleman, I really appreciate your kind words. You guys here are all the greatest and I am glad you understand what I mean even if I am not always the best at expressing myself either.
I admit to being somewhat jealous of the passion you guys all feel for your common goal. The sad part for me is remmembering that I did feel that way but no power on earth can make it happen before its time, if it will happen again. Who knows. That was the sad part, but I am making progress anyway. Low level depression is a hell of a lot better than the full blown version!
I am astounded at the requests to stay I am sure I will feel awkward at first but if you guys don't mind I will see what happens, play it by ear as they say. I seldom need encouragement to talk or to express an opinion! LOL
Take care Matt
Hey Chris,
I have the utmost respect for you. We differ on what long hair means but to be able to choose is what really counts.
Take care my friend,
Jason
Thank you Jason I have learned a lot from you, both hairwise and not. You have had to break some very hard chains to fully settle in as a hair god here at MLHH, whilst I have never had one tiny bit of flak about hair from anyone and I just could waltz in here on a whim.
I would say that you have earned your right to be fierce in defense of your long hair and long hair in general considering what you had to give up for it, as you said eternal life(!), friends, family. In my case it was "easy come easy go". We couldn't have had more different backgrounds so it is no surprise our viewpoints are so different!
I greatly respect your determination to have your identity intact; fierce passion is a gift Jason. I envy you it.
Be well Jason :)
I'm kinda sad to hear this Chris, I personally thought you had a great head of hair but like you said its just hair. As it turns out you were and still are a great guy, I wish you all the luck with being a short hair once again and don't stop coming my the board man.
-animosity
Hey thanks a lot for the kind words, man. I had no idea when I started growing my hair out that the best part of it would be this community but I tell you even when I was into the hair, hanging out here with you guys was even more enjoyable.
I suppose with respect to the board I will need to find my place here once again. I was in the center of it for a long time as a moderator and a big encourager of everybody who would listen lol! It is awkward being on the outside again and I am not sure where I fit here if at all despite my connection to this place and everybody here. Well it will work itself out and I don't have to solve it tonight!
Thanks again animosity, (you're going to have to work harder on the animosity or change your handle :) )
Take care!
...be leaving us !
You are an important member of this community, so please keep in touch. (...and cut or not, that is not exactly "short" hair you have now.
That is quite a smile you have where the 'Stash used to be ! Lookin' Good !!
Be Well and Happy
Walter
Walter your enthusiasm and the words of everyone have really moved me! I have always valued your warm words and great heart and humor. I meant it when I said how much this community means to me and it did sad me greatly feeling I was no longer part of such a wonderful family. That was what made me sad, the hair.. eh, just hair lol.
As for the smile, well it is a fact that most of my update pics I took myself with my camera's self timer, and a smile just doesn't come naturally in such a situation! But my partner took some of the pictures after I had the cut and nobody can get me to smile like she can lol.
I do like the hair incidentally I hadn't talked about that yet but I think this is a good length for me for right now.
As for staying around it will be awkward with me not growing it out at the moment but if you guys don't find it weird who am I to say otherwise? LOL
Oh hey Walter hows the Dulcimer playing going? I hope you are enjoying it now. Also did you get retired yet by your company, you mentioned that that was a possibility?
Anyway take care my friend, and thanks again for your support and encouragement all this time. :)
Kudos to you, Chris, for having the conviction to do what you wanted for yourself to be happy. If anyone here were to hang you out for cutting your hair, they'd be the heretic. After all, aren't we always giving and reading advice here about not succumbing to the pressures of society to cut your hair short if, what you wish, is to have long hair? How would we be any different if we started pressuring you NOT to cut your hair?
You look good now and did then, too, but I must admit it: The relaxed, confident smile in your "short haired" pic shines! (And that's without using any silicones! All natural, Baby!)
As a member here who isn't able to frequent the board as much as I once did, I've never felt left out (even if a tad out of the loop). You are welcome here always. Long hair or not. If anyone else says otherwise, punch them in the nose! (Joking, of course!)
All the best as you continue to find your fortunes and happiness.
Cheers!
Shawn (Mr.Crow)
Hey Shawn, first off that is one nice picture you have for your avatar! The whole thing, the hair, the smile, superb!
Thanks a million for all of your kind understanding and support all these years! I did need the help along the way and you were always there to lend a hand :)
I reached a crossroads a few months back and sat at it for a few months like Gandalf in Moria (I know bad analogy). I feared to make a move because of the horror stories I heard of those who cut their hair and regretted it instantly. I always gave out the same advice to anyone unsure of cutting or not cutting. Cut it I said and then you will know for sure whether you want longhair or not afterward. Well eventually I took my own advice and as it turned out I didn't regret it afterward.
Thanks again Shawn you have brightened my day!
Walter, Well stated. My sentiments exactly.
Chris, Good luck with your recovery and all that you do.
Must say, like White Tail stated there is an awesome smile where the stache use to be. Please do stay in touch! You're still a very important member of the MLHH family.
peace, jonalbear
Thank you so much John for all the encouragement you always bring :) I really appreciate the kind words and the warm regards. It has been terrific knowing how much support I have here, I really didn't want to part company and I am delighted that you all have been so wonderful to me!
I will probably grow out my hair to brushing the shoulders length, thanks to my new hero Walter whose picture newly inspires me:
http://www.mlhh.org/photos/walter.jpg
Hi Walter I don't know if I was just not being very observant before but I just love your avatar picture. It is fantastic, and right now I would have no problem with hair just your length and texture, I love it that way.
My main complaint was the texture of my own hair, so very flat. I wonder if there is a way to get the kind of hair texture you have by using a permanent or something. I know perms are supposed to be bad for hair but maybe it wouldn't matter at such a length like you have.
Anyway thank you so very much for your great kind words Walter, you are a very warm person and I will not be forgetting you. There is no better place on the net, thank you for being a part of it Walter.
Your picture really got me thinking. I am going to dig through the user's directory for hair types I like and maybe some of them are reproducible by perms or other means.
. . . that this shorn transition IS part and parcel of our illness, yeah, I said OUR, as both of us suffer from this malady of, of, of whatever tis. I think that you, much like me, are an intuitive, an' PART of it, your sheeredness, has to do w/ our medical condition FEEDING on our "protein strands", at least in part. You sensed it on a subtle level, ya dealt w/ it. Kudos, bruh.
So, you'll vanquish the bugaboo, you'll purify yerseff, as am I, an' you'll be back (the Governator's oft quoted phrase, "I'll be bock!" LOL) an' here's a connecting link to what we're talkin' about, as to not keep things in cloak'd terms any longer. Thank you for your utter honesty, ChrisG., (us elves LOVE that stuff, honesty!) to peruse at your leisure, folks,
Best silvery starry wishes,
Quenyan
Hey Quenyan you may be right about this, I am hoping that when this junk is cleaned out of me I will be more interested in everything, including longer hair. Until that day though it is much easier to live with short hair. If the day comes when I feel differently I will act accordingly. Some of it isn't just the candida though, I still don't really like the way my hair looks when it gets too long, it seems to lose character.
But I do hope you are right anyway, thanks for all the support dude, I appreciate it!
Hey Chris,
Well reading your post I have to admit I'm not at all surprised.Judging by posts you have made several months back I could see the writing on the wall so to speak.That being said I kind of figured it was only a matter of time before you decided to cut your hair short.I'm very sad:(
OK now the good news!In spite of what you decided to do with your hair I still feel I have made a friend here on the MLHH and would still like to keep in contact and hopefully someday meet like we were supposed to do so long ago until your illness was taking over a bit.We have e mailed each other and chatted on the board here and I enjoyed all that time getting to know you and hopefully you felt the same.Obviously you needed to do what was necessary at this time in your life and who could fault you for that.I only wish you the best no matter how you decide to wear your hair.
So Chris please stay in touch and don't just become another MLHH alumni in the school of hard knocks.I will always remember how well you conducted yourself here and the positive comments you made to future longhairs who stumbled in.Certainly you've made you mark.Take care and be well and stay in touch so I don't have to drag you out of hiding:)Just joking.LOL.So let me close by saying see ya down the road buddy:)Mark
Hey Mark I really want to thank you for being such a good friend. You have always been so encouraging and fun to hang with. I may not be sure exactly what my hair will be doing near future, but I am feeling somewhat better and hope for more yet. When the weather gets nice I should have some vacation time and maybe we can hit the Big Apple together, I have no intention of missing out on my promise :)
From my point of view with respect to MLHH everything can be the same, you guys don't seem to mind a guy who doesn't know what he's doing hanging about lol. Maybe long hair is in my future maybe not, but right now the freedom to hang out with you guys and encouraging others without worrying about what I am going to do sounds like good medicine to me :) I need a break from worrying about my hair, it will be relaxing to just enjoy others for awhile!
Take care my friend,
Chris
The photo you posted here sure doesn't look very sad, and I doubt that there is going to be any real parting, so basically you totally blew your title.
Each of us has to do what we believe is right for us. That is what it is all about. I find it much more sane to hear someone like you state that long hair is not for them than someone whose hair has never covered their ears in the first place.
I'm glad that physically you are making progress; that is important. We can still beat on each other at times privately about minor stuff like politics and religion. I look forward to seeing you on the chat site.
George
As it turns out you were right about my post's title, but when I posted it I wasn't sure whether I would feel posting here as I did before after I cut my hair. Both because at times I seemed to lose enthusiasm for long hair in general and more often just didn't like what I saw on myself lately. Admittedly I have health issues which do affect judgement and mood so I know not to completely trust myself on this stuff which was one reason why I waited so long to cut, in case I was making a mistake I would immediately regret as I have heard in horror stores here!
I finally decided that it didn't have to be a forever thing, not sure why I thought it was. If I change my mind later as my health improves furtherm that will be fantastic in its own way and then I will grow my hair back. It wasn't such a bad experience that I wouldn't repeat it if I wanted to.
Thank you George for being a friend and being concerned when I needed someone to talk to in troubled times. I must apologize for my past rants on religion and politics, I have since learned that such things I say were but a symptom of my being stressed and depressed. I used to dwell on the negative aspects of politics and gnaw on the unpleasant things that occurred daily in the political arena like a dog on a bone! It turns out that my political vehemence has vanished with the worst of my symptoms. I may never be a Republican but I believe I can now carry on a civil discussion of ideas about religion and politics and such withour resorting to negative emotions, I didn't really enjoy them anyway. Again I must apologize for things I said under the influence of a foul temper! That was no way to treat a good hearted friend :)
I look forward to seeing you in chat (here and MSN, sorry I just missed you the other day!)
Your hopefully saner and calmer friend,
ChrisG :)
I've read all the comments people left for Chris and
peope seem to be missing the main point Chris was making:
He basically sums it up right there. In this case Chris
is his own worst critic. And since it is his hair and his
life that is his right.
I don't think anybody missed any point, not sure I really had one myself lol
I was greatly cheered by my friends comments and wouldn't trade a word of their warmth for anything! However you are correct about being my own worst critic, but what can you do, hair is so subjective after all lol! Perhaps my attitude will change again, who knows?
Take care and thanks for the comments!
Chris, you are still a valuable member of this community, as an illustrious alumni, still longhair friendly, and certainly no shorthair yourself! I consider any length longer than convention to be awesome and your picture here shows a happy longhair. Yes, there are guys here that can boast of waist length, butt length, and a few lucky fellows, knee length, but thatÂ’s not everyone's goal. Being a longhair is about personal choice, not the decisions of others, and you have made the decision that makes you the happiest. BRAVO!
Much happiness to you, and your continued improving health,
Bruce
Thank you Bruce for your kind words and wisdom, I am delighted that so many people have encouraged me to stay. You are right about everyone's goals being different, for the longest time I wanted tail length hair as my goal, but then I kept growing. Maybe out of inertia because that is what everybody else was doing and I had no reason not to.
For now I am going to take a hair vacation and enjoy all you other guys and give my own hair a rest :) I don't need to make any decisions right now, kind of peaceful, that!
Thanks again Bruce and I will be seeing you around the board!
Hey Chris: You look good in your shorter style and it's still much longer than the average I would say. YOu look very happy and content in your pic and that is worth lots indeed! You made the correct decision it sounds like.
I hope you will check in every now and then. If you are ever in the northern CA area, do let me know...we've got lots of "natural" stuff around here to see, etc.
Be well and glad that your health situation is improved...that's even more important! Woohoo for you!
Cheers, Max
Hi Max
Thanks so much for your kindness and encouraging words, they really make my day! You are right, for now I feel I have made a good decision. What was screwing me up was thinking that the decision had to be longterm or permanent or anything. I didn't need to say farewell as people here seem pleased to have me around even if I don't know what I will be doing with my hair. I thought that might be true but I wasn't sure how I would feel posting here when not growing my own hair out at the moment. Turns out if I don't fuss about what I will do and just enjoy the company of all you fine folks I can do just fine! :)
I feel like I have come a long way just in the process of responding to all these replies, this has been quite a thought provoking experience, quite therapeutic LOL.
I do hope to meet some more people from this board sometime, we are quite a strong community!
Thanks again Max and my best to you,
ChrisG
Stick around, Chris! If you prefer mid length hair that's fine by me. Most people in RL would consider that to be long anyway. I've never been one to care what length hair other people have, provided they don't shave their heads, and even then I work on the principle that if I can't say anything good I say nothing. I don't have to do that with your hair, because really it suits you just fine and looks good.
Everyone has their own threshold beyond which they feel that their hair gets in the way. I've yet to reach mine, but if you have it's not a big deal.
We must get together again some time. Maybe we can get Elizabeth to come too. Maybe I could even persuade my wife to come, but it would have to be somewhere that you don't have to walk very much.
You know I don't talk about hair all that much either. I scarcely bother to read anyone's updates either. I see this mostly as a place for moral support.
Alun
Thanks for the compliments Alun, I think I look fine with this length hair and even typical length, if not spectacular lol. I am no fan of shaved heads either and I must agree with your "if I can't say anything good I say nothing" policy. I did what works for me now, and it may change as I change. I wouldn't mind in the least starting out over again if I had the same passion I started with a few years ago.
Right now I cannot tell how much of my current opinion on my own long hair comes from true aesthetics and how much from a bit of a corrupted sense of identity from being ill for so long and still not out of the woods yet.
I really appreciate your friendship Alun and I would love to get together sometime, we don't have to go anywhere at all much, I would love to see you and your family again. I am just coming back into a somewhat normal life after a long time of a most not normal one! I look forward to being with people more again as I had closed myself off something fierce.
Thanks again for encouraging me to stay on Alun, I really had regretted feeling like I wouldn't want to stay on the board and having to say farewell. I think I was confusing my own uncertainty with longhair with longhair in general but I will enjoy hanging out here still. :)
i hope you get better as soon as possible :(
take care!
Thanks Carla I appreciate the support and may you be well too!
Dear Chris, you have nothing on my sad part. If I part my hair the other way I quickly get a headache because my hair has been bent the same direction for at least twenty years. Your part on the other hand looks trouble-free. The grey I adore on you is where it belongs so I'm happy (though really your smiling photo and returning health is much more important to me). You now have hair that pleases you so you're happy. We didn't like you for your hair alone so of course you don't have to give up the board, you'll always have knowledge to impart from when you had long hair.
Be seeing you at the next DC meet I'm in town for (hey Alun, it looks like mid-June when I return for graduation, let's pick something, food is always nicely sedentary),
Elizabeth
Ah yes, point taken. I think that's a good idea. We should probably go somewhere central, i.e. somewhere in DC, unless someone has a specific reason not to.
I got lost trying to meet up with the guys somewhere in Montgomery county, although I found them eventually, because I got mixed up between two different towns, basically, LOL! I live in Maryland too, but not on that side of DC.
Alternatively, we could meet in Arlington or Alexandria, and it would be the turn of the guys from the other side of town to not know where they were going. Actually, there are lots of good places to eat in Old Town, although parking is difficult.
Alun
You guys could come down to Williamsburg VA. I am about two hours away from there, but we could meet up and goto Busch Gardens.
Did somebody say road trip?!
Sounds like a great idea wherever we end up meeting. But Alun and I don't need to even wait for you Elizabeth I just need to get off my butt and start making plans like I used to. I got caught up in some bad habits being sick and not doing many things was one of them!
Hey Elizabeth I am renowned around here for my unintentional puns that just slip out like my post title. Must be the odd way my brain works, I am sure they will be creating a Syndrome out of it shortly lol!
I want to thank you Elizabeth for being such a good friend to me all these years, befriending a total newbie and introducing him to some of the supreme hair gods at the LHC, that was phenomenal. And the great times we have had at our Renfests.
I had mixed feelings about longhair before I cut it, sometimes I liked it some times not, and funny thing that hasn't changed after the cut. Obviously I need some time away from my own hair so I will hang out with you all and forget my own for awhile lol. Should be fun.
Hi Chris, you made the right decision and thats what counts. My very best wishes to you and don't be a stranger, you have made a lot of friends here, me included of course!
Be well, take care, ~ Dave
Thanks Dave you always know the right thing to say! Seems you longhaired folk are quite tolerant, allowing a not so longhair into your midst! It is a bit awkward I admit finding my new place here but that is what life is about, adapting and changing. Sometimes a new perspective may bring new insights :)
Thanks for being a good friend Dave!
Hi Chris
Indeed this is so sad to hear, and yet I feel you have made the right decision. Despite health battles you have triumphed as the wonderful person that you are, given of so much of your time in helping others on this board, (let alone being a moderator) and of all of your unselfish contributions.
You are a true gentleman which is becoming rarer and rarer these days. You show concern for others despite the suffering you have been through and are still in battle with.
Chris, we all love you here, and whenever you choose please feel free to stop by and say hi. You will never ever be a stranger to this community and will always be welcomed with open arms.
We are forever gratefull to have been blessed by your presense here.
With all good wishes always
Justin~
Hi Justin
I didn't want to bring this news as I hate to spread anything not cheerful in such a wonderful place, but instead I was cheered and saddened at the same time as I read over all these terrificly warm posts from so darn many people. I was astounded but then I DID know this place was very special! I feel more welcomed now than I have ever been since I first came here, much more so now than then because I know you all now!
I am still a bit confused about my role here, I love this place yet feel a bit seperated by the fact that (for now) I cannot seem to summon the motivation to grow and keep my hair long despite the fact that I do think it looks great on all of you.
Clearly something complicated is going on, but I can wait and in the meantime hang with you guys and the ladies too :)
Justin, you have been a steadfast friend through some of the worst periods I have ever faced and I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me, you are quite an extraordinary person, the word gentleman doesn't even begin to describe it. I can but simply thank you and hope that someday I may return the favor.
ChrisG
Hi Chris,
One must never think of this as a parting at all, and remember that you are now, and always have been one of the most well-liked members on the entire hyperboard.
Remember, that long hair is not for everyone. The fact that you have made a decision that makes you happy is the most important thing of all. I can tell by the look in your eyes that you are much more at peace with yourself after this decision, and that makes me happy for you.
Remember, Chris, that you will always be 100% welcome in this community. You have always been there for me from the first day I joined the hyperboard, and words cannot begin to say how much I appreciate your support. You are a true gentleman in every sense of the word, always showing a true sense of caring for your fellow man.
Please keep on popping in to say hi to us on the hyperboard, or feel free to write me at any time when you want someone to talk to. Of course, I wish you the best of success in your future endeavours, and my thoughts and prayers that you beat your depression and the Candida for good.
Take care, and my best to you,
David
Hey David, you never know when a new face appears here who is going to end up being a pillar of the community, and I didn't know at the time you came that you would become one :) It is hard to imagine this place now without your enthusiasm and great kindness and support of everyone here, including myself.
I cannot thank you enough for your care and concern, looking around for me when I wasn't here for extended periods last year. I must admit it is great to be missed, even if the reasons for being absent weren't pleasant. This place is like no other and you are one terrific example of the true spirit of MLHH.
Right now I do not know what the future of my hair is, and it doesn't matter for right now. I intend to just relax and forget about it for awhile and enjoy hanging around here as my time and interest permit. I won't be a central figure here so much but I can probably still find a place in here somewhere. It does feel strange and a bit disorienting here despite the warmest invitations to stay on I will admit, but the mind is flexible :) Sometimes it's OK to not know the future and just let it happen!
Thanks again David you are a stout friend :)
Chris,
I really care about you and have always considered you a friend. I want to reiterate my respect for you. All I was saying and drawing attention to is that for some men, long hair does mean more.
*Please* don't take me the wrong way!
Jason
I definitely learned that there is great variation in the depths of passion for hair here, and I was on the casual side when I was growing out. A strong interest in my mind paled by comparison to people's like you and Joao :)
So, Chris, I wish you all the best. I'm a little bit sad, but that's the way, and I fully support your choice.
Good bye
Vivien
Thanks for the warm wishes Vivien, I really regretted this parting of the ways with you great guys. I know people want me to stay on and I can try to. I really enjoy the company here but it is sad seeing all of you guys enjoying something I have lost the ability to appreciate as you do. I will try and find a place here but it doesn't feel quite the same as before. I suppose it is good bye in a sense, both of us have to say goodbye to the longhair that I was, and that makes me sad too. Life can be so complicated sometimes! :(
Thanks again Vivien, I guess I was really struck by that goodbye, that made me sadder.
AAAAAAwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Im sort of speechless but not surprised lol I wonder if u will go even shorter now lol
Nah Zig no plans to go shorter, I am not sure how I could manage to do it but if I could get some more body and wave in my hair I might grow it down to touching my shoulders again. I just don't like my bangs when they get long. I will have to think about this. Hey at least I lost the Musketeer look lol!
Hey Zig keep those moderators in line since I won't be there to do it :) I enjoyed working with you as a moderator Zig but lost the motivation lately. I do hope to be around the board and chat sometimes here.
Take care mate
Chris
wow i didnt know u quote at moderating lol im shocked
Also a great pleasure working with you moderatoring I dunno why it came to you leaving wish id been around more to
Hello Chris!
It's really sad to me that you cutted your hair, as I really admired it for it's quality and lenght. It also suited you very well in my opinion...
Still... long hair is an option. You have to leave the way that makes you happier, and life is all about this quest to figure our happy places and how to be truely happy. For some, long hair is a part of that, for other's it's not.
Anyways, I am very happy to know you're making progress with your health and I do wish you all the luck to keep improoving.
About going away, I really think it's not necessary for several reasons. First of all you are really loved here in the hyperboard and I'm sure everyone would want to keep recieving news from you. Secondly, your hair is still long ;)
I wish you all the best Chris and I definitly hope to keep seeing you around =)
Hi João
Sorry I have been making people sad, it was very sad for me too. Not the cutting of it, but the fact that I lost the interest that I used to share with you. It is impossible to describe what it is like to feel something like a strong interest or a passion slip away. It has to be experienced to be understood. That was what made me sad so much when I posted and now too. The mood comes and goes, sometimes it bothers me less than others.
I suppose I can't say that I was happier when I cut my hair but I was somewhat relieved because I didn't have to worry about it. I guess that is sort of the same thing, but it isn't like I really know if I am a longhair or not lately. I find myself confused no doubt because of my illness which can depress me at times and make it hard to be myself. Maybe I am a longhair somewhere inside who knows? The best way to find out is to get myself healthy again and that is my path for now.
I hope things are going well for you João with your design studies. You should definitely post more pictures of your work, hopefully you can get some pretty models to show it off :)
Jeez Chris, you make it sound like you shaved your head. It's still long, relatively. If you want to stick around that's fine with me.
Well compared to what I did have when my hair was at its longest this current length was a big deal, even for casual me. It's hard to explain, you either get it or you don't I suppose.
Hey Chris, i completely understand why you made this choice, whatever makes you the happiest is what truly counts, you've been great support here on this board throughout the years and by all means stop in here from time to time just to chat a bit or something:)
BTW, that style you have now suits you, and it's still longish hair, a bit like my hair is right now, and i'm heading into my 11 th month in february.
Take care man and i wish you the best in your health recovery as well!:)
Hey thanks Simon it was a pleasure hanging out with all of you guys and growing together. I do miss that part and who knows I may grow it out again but I have learned that I cannot do that at the same time I have this damn disease! Once that is vanquished than I can see about the hair. I know I have to do something in the meantime and I can either keep my hair where it is now or let the back and sides grow longer and keep the bangs trimmed some to their current length. Not quite a mullet but definitely not the favored style of MLHH. Oh well I was always a renegade lol! I just don't like letting all my hair grow out, the bangs in my case need to be kept shorter.
I will hang out some here on and off, not quite sure how that will feel, a bit awkward I am sure lol. But maybe I am a once and future longhair :)
Hey Chris. I'm really sorry to hear that you are leaving MLHH because I feel that I have gotten to know you over the past 8 months I've been here. I always look forward to your honest, interesting and positive posts. Your new haircut looks great and I'm glad to hear that you have no regrets about cutting your hair. We all move on and change our outlooks, opinions and desires. I'm sure that someday, I too will become a short hair again. I wish you good health and happiness.
Del
Hey Del, thanks so much for your wonderful comments and kindness! I have enjoyed sharing this place with you Del I love reading (and seeing) your enthusiasm and humor! It appears that people don't think it too odd that I contribute here occasionally even if I am not actively growing my hair out so I will see you around here and maybe I may get a chance to meet you sometime. I want to come up to NJ and visit with Mark sometime if you aren't that far away maybe we can together too. I would enjoy meeting you as I know you must be even more fun in person :)
Thanks again Del for inspiring me and making me laugh during the times when I need that the most!
Hey Chris. Just let me know when you are going to be in Jersey visiting Mark and we can all get together. I've gotten together with Mark several times and he's a great guy.
Del
Your wonderful smile says it all.
As with anything meaningful there are bound to me mixed feelings and this was no exception! I had doubts about cutting it before and I still wonder if I made the right choice even now but overall I am happy enough. Hair can regrow.
Thank you for this comment it made me smile again :)
Dear Chris, I wish you the best of luck on the next part of life's journey, wherever it takes you, and hope to run into you again one day. You've always been a kind soul and an inspiration to others.
Dean
You are quite right about the journey Dean, at this point in my life a hell of lot more than the hair is uncertain! It sometimes worries me as even now I still have ups and downs and the downs can be bad. I just couldn't deal with the long hair emotionally at this time, it is complicated and hard to explain. I am a bit afraid of the next phase of the journey as I know it won't be easy.
Thanks so much Dean for your kindness and inspiration as well, it has been a pleasure to see you come back to the MLHH, you have always been so kind.
Take care Dean I hope all is well in your life :) I may be on here now and again so I hope to catch you then!
Hey Chris,
Sorry to hear you were leaving, but I certainly respect your decision. Please let us know how you're doing from time to time...hopefully we'll see you with long hair again (I must say that I thought you DID look good with long hair).
Take care of yourself!
Brett
Thank you so much Brett for your nice comments! I don't know for sure what I will do about the hair in the future, I cut it now apparently it seems to just give myself space to solve other problems and not have the hair to nag me lol
When I look at the hair I had it did look pretty good after all, but something in me prevented me from appreciating it as all of you did. It is like suddenly going color blind while making a painting. What you were doing becomes impossible and you need to change your goals and priorities, at least for the duration of the emergency!
Thanks again Brett, I hope all is well with you too :)
Chris,
While I am sad to see you chop your hair off, I am also happy for you too. I knew this day was coming, just not when.
To be honest, your hair is still pretty longish.
Take care and keep in touch,
Mike
You are right Mike there probably wasn't a soul in this place that didn't see this coming. I have always been one for expressing myself, I never saw the point of keeping things from those I regard as friends, and this place is packed with them :)
I have truly been blessed by all the warm words and emotions I have had from everyone as a result of my struggles with my health issues. Such strength of friendship and support like I never get from family even!
I am sorry I made so many people sad, but the sad part isn't the hair, it's the thing that caused the haircut, the damned depression. Eliminating that is my major goal now that I have controlled the stress mostly.
Thanks for being a good friend Mike, no worries about not hearing from me, although sometimes you have to come root me out of my slumps lol
Hi Chris, As has been said you will be missed and we will have lost one of our best. I know as time goes by nothing is forever and we all evolve and I'm glad your doing what you want for yourself.
I wish you all the best
Kevin
Thanks a lot Kevin I really appreciate the sentiment. I hate goodbyes so I guess I will cheat and come by here now and then. You guys will know when I am having a good day if I am online here :) I am not sure if the decision to cut was an evolution or a devolution, I am tempted to say the latter. I am hoping for a way out of this depression though, then maybe long hair again, who knows?
Thanks again Kevin, you are a great guy, you rock! \m/
Even though I'm new here, I've seen you around and I have to admit your hair looks great at mid-length.
I personally only plan on growing my hair somewhere between chin and shoulder, so I love your length.
Hi John welcome to the board and thanks for the compliment. I think I can probably have different lengths and people seem to think they look ok. I guess the tough part is figuring out which one I wanted!
The most important thing is that you focus on your health, however, you were one of the guys that looked good with long hair. Sometimes we have to back off from the picture in order to see it as it really is.
I do wish you well and perhaps you will grow again. Either way, best wishes.
jeffrey.
You are absolutely right about focusing on my health and that is what I am trying to do now. The hair will keep for a later time and perhaps later I will be able to think more on it than I can now. I am glad so many people understood me here :)
Thanks for the compliment, who knows whether I will grow as long as before, I doubt that, but I would like the hair touching the tops of the shoulders. That I think I might like.
See you around the board!
Leave, that is! Any guy who'd hair exceeds the standard collar length is a longhair in my book. And by society's standards. I admit that I've been conspicuously absent myself (ongoing thyroid issues, plus I am just getting over a bug that began last Wednesday), and I have wondered about you. I'm not surprised that you opted to cut your hair further. I have told you before that the indifference toward your hair was probably depression related, and that trying to focus on that plus illness plus the possibility of disability was a lot. You made a decision, made your health and your job a priority, which was the logical thing to do.
You only just returned to work. You still have some hurdles ahead on the road-of-life regarding your physical and mental health. You are loved and respected on the hyperboard, and if you try to leave, a bunch of determined folks are going to be grabbing you by the back of your shirt and dragging you back in. You should know how determined longhairs can be. ;-) Isn't what MLHH is about, is supporting individuality? Hair length is just one way to express that. We still support you, regardless. You admit yourself, that you admire longhair in others. So why not stay on board, and encourage others who are in the process when you can. Your comments about other's manes are always welcome.
Love and hugs to you Chris,
Carol
Hi Carol, you are very wise and absolutely right in everything you said. Of late I can really feel how worn out I have been getting and it was all too much at once. I was able to handle the hair and the job before I got ill, and I was (sort of) able to handle the illness and the hair later, but I cannot do all three at once. You nailed it there, I guess I don't have to feel guilty for letting people down here though I do. I know its illogical but I feel that some nevertheless, plus the regret of missing out on the fun all of you are still having without me :(
Thanks a lot for being there when I needed to talk to someone who understands the reality of life altering illnesses. They can never be adequately described to someone who has never known such a thing.
It seems you weren't the only one to support my staying on shorthair or no. I can't express how touched I was by all the kindness of everyone here, I was overwhelmed and gladdened and sadenned at the same time. I cannot get all of it but I have tried to express that if people have read all my replies. I found that responding to people was quite therapeutic actually. That probably means I need to write even more. I used to do a lot of that when I was confused and it usually seemed to help. I am not sure how much I will post here depends on my energy and mood but I will try. It still feels awkward being here when I am not quite the same as I was before but maybe that will pass.
Thanks again Carol and I hope you are feeling better soon :)
I will hopefully get to reply in that overly wordy way of mine lol. Serious posts deserve serious replies and I will get to all of you (hopefully before this post slides off the board!) But quick update, I don't know how exactly but I want to let my grow down until it touches the tops of my shoulders. I would really like to have the length and style that Walter has. It just hit me as I was posting back replies and I saw his avatar and thought that his look was awesome, so obviously my interest in hair isn't dead after all. I don't know how someone with my hair can get that texture, maybe a light perm or something?
Here is a super sincere genuine (and generic) thank you to all of you guys and gals who have been so kind and warm to me, I had dreaded making this post but I am glad I did it now.
Stay tuned tomorrow for more regularly scheduled replies :) It's late now and time for sensible people to go bed!
This is great news Chris!
I bet you could get a crazy do using this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generator
Hey, you are smiling in the picture. That's what really matters.
Hey thanks Steve, you are right. For now not having to think about what to do with the hair is a relief. Doesn't have to be permanent or anything. The best chance I will ever get to have great hair, short or long, is when I get better. So that's my focus.
I hope all is going well for you out West, maybe someday I may make it out that way and see my left coast friends :)
Take care Steve