"The stomp of sturdy boots and the muffled squeak of leather beat out a steady cadence as the party of wanderers cut their way through the woodland terrain. They've been on their quest for quite some time. They are tired. They are weary. They are getting low on supplies, and are down to hard biscuits, which are more akin to a fire-hardened brick than something you'd want for breakfast.

You may not realize it, but every day you constantly lie without even meaning to. You lie on first contact with another human being. Whether it's meeting someone for the first time, or a boisterous meeting of two old friends. New or old, we all give them the same opening lie to the same innocent question. I ask "How are you?" You say with misguided deception:

"I'm doing good."

Uncomfortable feelings come in all shapes and sizes. Some things make you feel mildly uncomfortable, while others make you feel supremely uncomfortable. Sometimes to the point of fear. Whatever it is that makes you feel uncomfortable usually falls into one of two categories. Something you don't want to do,
and something you shouldn't do.

The Beard.
In the world I live in, the beard is the thing that says "Hey, listen to what I have to say. I'm old enough to grow one of these bad boys, so obviously I know things." I'm unable to grow one yet on my oh-so-baby face, which I see as a blessing, and a curse.