Regardless of your gender, age, and background, you are never above doing things for other people out of kindness. Helping other people will do the following things:
Help develop effective communication that will promote positive energy within your circle of influence.
Set a great example for the younger generation. Children are our future.
Undermine the negative stereotypes that social media and television have created about people in their inability to do nice things. The world is not a bad place.
We are all on this planet together and if we truly want to survive as a species, it is imperative that we focus on our values and love for other people.
Our story is not over. Not even close.
“History is being read but it’s also being written by people with imagination.” – Les Brown
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Where’s your man card?” Or, “Give me your man card?” If so, what is the first thing that comes to mind in regards to a man card? Do you picture the image that society has created about what a man should look like and the things that he should be capable of doing?
Stereotype of what a man card represents
Regardless if you agree or disagree, society has created a profile of a stereotypical man. Note: These are just some examples and they may not all apply.
6′ or taller
In shape, if not the size of a body builder even if it means using HGH or other illegal or dangerous substances
Wealthy
Incredibly intelligent about “everything”
Works on cars and can fix every type of issue
Can repair any house issue, build additional rooms, and even build a house
Consistently drives the nicest car/truck/SUV
NEVER cries
Consumes alcohol every day
Hangs out at the local bar with his “boys”
A womanizer
A man’s man
Are incredibly brave in the face of danger
Has an occupation that demonstrates his dominance. No office job that gives him soft hands.
Should never be questioned about being right or wrong because he’s a man
The stereotypical man profile is where arrogance is born, aka a falsified reality.
As a 38 year old male, it bothers me to see this type of shift in our society. Why should a man have to be perfect in order to be considered a man?
If these examples are what it takes to be a man, then I’m here to tell you that I’m not sure that being a stereotypical man or man’s man is worth it. Personally, I don’t value all of these things. So what does that say about me? Should I turn in my man card to the closest “You Just Got Revoked” Man Card station?
The fact is, I don’t care about this man card thing or what it takes to be a man’s man.
Honestly, you shouldn’t either. Why should you spend your entire life trying to be something that you’re not? That is, if this applies to you. If you are someone that can do all of these things, good for you. Personally, I’ll still respect you regardless of what you’re capable of doing. Sadly, not everyone feels this way and this is where these stereotypes are born.
In my world, being a man represents the following things:
Loving my wife
Loving my children
Setting the example via my actions and not my gender related words
Respecting my wife and other women by not being a womanizer. Women are people, not a conquest
Being comfortable knowing that I can’t work on cars because it doesn’t interest me
Being flexible with not being able to do a lot with my house despite being interested in that field of work
Spending time with my wife and kids instead of the “boys”
Being content with the fact that although I’m in shape, jeopardizing my long-term health to look perfect is not worth it
Being comfortable knowing that my occupation doesn’t demonstrate my dominance but it certainly helps people that might not be able to help themselves. It doesn’t make me soft.
Understanding that crying is an emotion that all human beings are born with regardless of their gender
It’s acceptable not to consume alcohol or in moderation
It’s perfectly normal to experience fear
Height and weight have nothing to do with being a man
Becoming wealthy takes time, patience and consistent action
“Be a man,” tells a boy that his actions are not equal to other males. Translation: “You are weak.”
I recognize that not everyone will share my beliefs. That’s what makes your life unique because you get to decide what you believe in. My only advice, don’t always listen to what society is telling you about being a man. This is your life, not theirs. Being a man should involve you being happy. So ask yourself this question:
“Am I a man’s man or am I a man that accommodates the life that I choose?”
What you tell yourself is what you will eventually become. Fuel your mind with positivity no matter the size of the storm that you’re currently battling. I am (You are) are worth it!
There are 364 other days out of the year for you to start a new chapter in your life. (1 January 2018) Meaning, you don’t need to make a New Year’s resolution if you are truly serious about:
Doing something new and/or courageous.
Committing to some self-reflection exercises.
Dedicating more time to your family and significant other.
Being the person that you were born to be and not what people think you should be.
Implementing a training regiment that offers no room for you to quit because your health and future are worth it.
Making the decision to be happy about every new day because life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you.
Change starts with you.
Forget about the overplayed clichés about the 1st of the year; take action today! Stop wasting valuable time. Your life has more value than you realize.
Our story is not over. Not even close.
