11. SOLO EP: What does it mean to be a Man? Is detoxing bullsh!t? AND MORE!

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At some point, I believe every boy considers what it means to be a man, and more importantly how they line up in that frame they have in their mind. Maybe even some women or anyone attracted to a more prototypical masculine person considers it when looking at a current or potential partner.
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This is something I've been giving a lot of thought to lately. I didn't have a father growing up, I had a mostly absent stepdad, and in my adult life, I met the man I call my mentor now, Glenn Dawson.
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My story isn't uncommon. Census records say 1/4 of boys grow up without a man in the house. My entire life I have wondered how that affects me.
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This is pulled directly from Fathers.com "Children from fatherless homes are more likely to be poor, become involved in drug and alcohol abuse, drop out of school, and suffer from health and emotional problems. Boys are more likely to become involved in crime, and girls are more likely to become pregnant as teens."
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What this doesn't cover is our relationships to our loved ones, to our children, to other men, to sexual partners or lovers. Although my anecdote means little, I'll say these all seem to be impacted too.
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The reason I brought up Glenn is that that was a turning point for me. I was 19 or 20, still angry at the world for I don't know why, but one day I put my dog down, and Glenn, this stereotypical jock-looking man mixed with Ben Stiller cried when sharing his own story about losing his dog. I didn't do that. I didn't let myself cry. Until I saw a strong, masculine man do that.
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Being a man doesn't mean bottling trauma or pain, but we also aren't meant to unload on others. So where does this energy go? This is the importance of having other men you trust who are also working on themselves. I called Glenn to cry just two days ago at the time of typing this and he just listened.
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All of this culminates in my long-winded point. Being a man is different for us all, but ultimately the way to find that answer for you is to find a man you admire who has a healthy body, mind, and relationship with others. Talk with him and try to emulate the good.
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Men do have a place in this world but we have lost our way due to societal pressure. Being a man means becoming who you're meant to be.
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So who are you meant to be?

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