How To Be a Man

I have been thinking on manliness a lot lately. I have never been considered a real mans man if you will. I don’t much care for the traditional sports or feel the need to drive a truck or join a fraternity. That’s just not me. I don’t have huge muscles or a beard. I got to thinking of the true meaning of the word Manliness and I came to the conclusion that we have it entirely wrong in our society. Manliness does not require drinking to much and getting into fights, watching football or fixing cars so much as being a woman requires baking cakes and knitting doylies. It is so much more than that, and most men fall very short of the mark. Trying to describe what manliness actually is is very challenging. It is so multifaceted that it will never be something you can pinpoint. But here is my explanation, the best I can give.    

I like nice things. I like old things. I like nice old things. I hate it when old thing are no longer considered useful and are tossed aside, unwanted, no longer suitable for the task at hand. The quality of things is paramount to their longevity and in my short time on this planet I have found that this is not just true for objects, but for men as well. Some men will outlive their usefulness and others will die long before their utility is ever fulfilled. For a man to be of great usefulness he must, as with anything of quality and value, be built on a strong foundation with the finest of materials. He must possess a firm grasp on the world and all of its shortcomings as well as its endless beauty and wonder. He must appreciate the value in others as well as himself and expound with great enthusiasm on the advantages given to him in his position in life. He must realize the absurdity and coincidence of his existence and never take anything, even the smallest of things, for granted. His tenacity must be never ending and he must always accept accountability for his actions. He must look at the world through a lens of temperance and humility and always consider all sides of every possibility. And most importantly he must respect himself as well as each and every individual he comes in contact with, for there is something to be learned from everyone and everything.

As you can see, being a man is no easy task. It takes dedication, risk, and patience but the rewards are far greater than you can imagine. To be able to look back on your life as an old man and know that you tried your best against all odds, holding steadfast against the current that is popular delusion, is a great and pleasing thing.  But it is better yet to look forward as a man not yet aged and know that you are doing everything you can. I would like to say that I embody all these qualities but I simply do not. All I can do is wake up and try to be a better man with every step, and that is acceptable.