- Visit the Photo Place

MyLine:Cover Story

Resolution: Improving hygiene

Date published: 1/9/2007

By SAM KRIEG

YOUTH CORRESPONDENT

This upcoming year, I resolve to have better personal hygiene.

I speak not only for myself, but for the majority of the world's male population, when I say that life is simply easier if one does not bathe, shave, change clothes or groom every day.

It's much easier to simply roll out of bed, lather on some Axe or Old Spice, splash some water on our stubbly faces, set a hat firmly over our unbrushed locks and stroll outside in yesterday's wrinkled attire.

However, that is no longer good enough. I refuse to continue to wallow in the stinky mire that is being a male teenager. I will rise above my natural instincts, which allow for no more than a couple of showers and encounters with a razor per week. I will overcome my natural laziness and will do my laundry on a regular basis, to avoid having to rewear pants and shirts.

Some, namely those of the fairer sex, may scoff at this seemingly humble resolution. However, it is not such a small thing when one looks at the bigger picture.

To be a young, hygienic male goes against centuries of tradition. Looking at history, it is safe for a lazy boy to assume that males did not bathe on a regular basis until the last century, with the advent of running water.

Looking back on more recent times, what have been the cultural trends for men? There was the Beat Generation of the 1950s, the hippie movement of the '60s, disco in the '70s and grunge in the '90s. Now, with at least three of those trends, hygiene was not a priority for anyone, male or female.

To be a hygienic boy in these times runs contrary to a proud, but comfortable, nostril-searing tradition of laziness. Wish me luck as I try to uphold this resolution to be well groomed and nice smelling in the upcoming year.

SAM KRIEG is a student at Germanna Community College.

Follow us on

Date published: 1/9/2007