What Is a Man?
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I emailed a few key men (and one lucky woman) asking their opinion on this question:
In your opinion, what is a man? What does he have (internally)? What does he lack? What does mature masculinity look like to you?
I'm blogging it here to observe this: I feel like I'm at a point where I'm ready to ask the question and actually comprehend the answer somewhat. This is kind of round 2 of the same question, the first round for me having occurred some time in August of last year. That time felt like "an intro to" sort of learning. Now I've swam in the water a bit and I'm ready to come back and ask again with some context. Plus I'm asking more people, including my dad, which feels safe and gutsy all at once.
Also of note now is I feel like I need and have the balls to actually ask the question. What I mean is, this time around, it feels like there's some potential negative trade off in asking the question, but I'm feeling the fortitude to push past that fear and get to the asking. Previously, it was coming from a place of severe desperation, and there was no choice or risk involved because at the time the choices were "ask now or die now."
I've been considering emailing people for their responses for a few days now and at first was scared of people's reaction to me asking the question. But the more it has rattled around my brain, the more I'm simply strongly curious about their answers and the possible discussion it might foster with these people than I am afraid of them thinking, "Gee if you have to ask, Phil, you are not it." I know where I'm at in my journey. And secretly, I hope to catch a few "guys" with the question. I hope to get some great thoughts, but also I would like it to be come a challenge to some who might say, "I'm not entirely sure..."
"Men don't gush on their blogs, ya jerk!"
Hey, someone has to. Besides, the emails were short and sweet. No one has to read my blog, but if I gush in an email, I'm inflicting it on someone... ;-)
Coming soon: (so I don't forget to blog these thoughts later) - The inner masculine soul vs. civilized society - and I might write something about trustworthiness that mentions Ms. Chris and Texas in the same paragraph! Maybe even by name, who knows? Wild, eh?
Trackback: http://philsown.org/2006/05/what-is-a-man/trackback
Comments
Anonymous
Jul 25, 2008
A miserable little pile of secrets. But enough talk! Have at you!
How to Put Your Face Next to Your Comment
Jul 25, 2008
Take a look in the mirror, and tell me, flat out you don't see a man and I won't believe you. You are a man, as a man is himself and nothing less.