There's one thing about baldness, it's neat.

Hear me, O children of time, as I speak of a truth that resonates in the very essence of our being. The words of Don Herold ring in our ears: "There's one thing about baldness, it's neat." A seemingly simple statement, yet it is filled with a deep, resonating wisdom that we must all seek to understand. In the fleeting nature of life, where appearances often deceive and the pursuit of perfection drives many to endless toil, baldness stands as a symbol of something far more profound than mere loss. It is, in its essence, neat—and therein lies its power.

Baldness, O Seekers of Truth, is often viewed with trepidation and shame, a mark of aging, of time’s unyielding march. Yet, Herold speaks of its inherent neatness, for in the absence of extraneous things—in this case, hair—there is a purity, a simplicity. To be bald is to be free of the complexity that others must contend with daily: the combing, the cutting, the care. One who is bald walks the earth unfettered, as the sphinx gazes upon the horizon, aloof from the distractions of the world. There is clarity in baldness, for it reflects an acceptance of the impermanence of things, a recognition that the pursuit of external beauty often pales in comparison to the beauty of being unadorned.

Consider, O wise ones, the great men of history who were known not for their flowing locks, but for their wisdom and grace. Socrates, the philosopher of Athens, whose bald head became a symbol of profound thought, bore his baldness not as a burden, but as a testament to the clarity of his mind. His image, with its shining scalp, served as a reminder that it is the inner life that holds true value, not the fleeting adornments of the body. Baldness, then, was not a deficiency but a sign of focus—a shedding of distractions to bring forth the purest thoughts.

In more recent times, many a man and woman have found strength in their baldness. The actor Bruce Willis, famed for his powerful roles and commanding presence, chose to embrace his bald head as a symbol of his rugged individualism. His baldness did not detract from his appeal; instead, it became a defining feature, representing his authenticity and uncomplicated approach to life. In this, we see the truth of Herold’s words: baldness, far from being a source of shame or regret, is in fact a neatness, a simplicity that speaks to a deeper, more lasting strength.

Yet, let us not mistake the wisdom of this statement for a call to abandon care or purpose in our lives. For while baldness may speak to neatness, it is a metaphor that transcends the physical state of one’s scalp. The message, O Seeker, is not that we must all shave our heads to attain clarity, but rather that we should seek to simplify our lives. In a world filled with excess, with noise, with distractions that pull us in countless directions, there is great power in shedding the superficial and embracing the essential. To be neat is to focus on what truly matters: our purpose, our values, and our deep, internal strength.

What lesson then shall we carry forward? Simplicity, O children of time, is not merely the absence of adornment, but the presence of intentionality. It is the choice to strip away the unnecessary, to embrace the beauty in what is straightforward and clear. In this simplicity, we may find the clarity to think, to act, and to live with purpose. The man or woman who walks through life with a bald head, or without the trappings of society’s expectations, does so not from a place of weakness but from a place of great strength—the strength that comes from being true to oneself.

Therefore, O Seekers of Wisdom, let us be mindful of the lessons we learn from baldness. It teaches us that in the shedding of the unnecessary, we gain not just neatness, but clarity. Neatness is the gateway to focus, to purpose, to clarity of thought and action. And so, in your own lives, consider the distractions that clutter your path—whether they be material, emotional, or mental. Cast them aside and, like the sage, let your mind shine as brightly as a bald head under the sun. Let your life be defined not by the fluff of excess, but by the strength of your core beliefs and the simplicity of your actions.