Our world does not value masculinity. It does not value the things that are unique to men like it did in the past. Strength. Courage. Productivity. Honor. Our world wants men to be tame. To be kind. To be compassionate. To pay for the sins of ages past. As a result, many of us went into hiding. We kept our mouths shut. We were polite. We were kind. We didn’t stir the waters or rock the boat. But we felt like cowards. My brothers, that’s not a man’s life.
For me, that experiment is over. It’s time to be a man. It’s time to stand for manhood. But what does that look like in our day? Most of us live safely within the perimeter, with no need for strength or courage. We set up our lives around social media so that we can block anyone who bothers us. We interact with strangers across the country and the world, but have no one nearby to share our lives with. My brothers, that’s not a man’s life.
We’ve become very adept at technology. And we sit on our asses inside an office all day long. We push buttons while sitting and communicate with others near and father. We push buttons and send them pictures, videos, and documents. Then we leave and go sit some more. We push buttons and order our food. We push buttons and receive entertainment. We sit and we push. Rinse and repeat, until the days become years. Perhaps our tombstone will read, “He checked Facebook”. My brothers, that’s not a man’s life.
We hurt, ache, and are not healthy. Our testosterone levels are low. Our libidos are low. We are nowhere near as strong as our fathers’ generation. My brothers, that’s not a man’s life.
Our wives are running our families. By default. Because we tapped out. Because we didn’t step up. Because we were playing video games. Because we spent too much time at work. While our wives may enjoy the control of running things, they’re starving for us to be more. They need more leadership and initiative from us. They need us to take the family on an adventure. They need us to raise our kids, not just send them to her. My brothers, that’s not a man’s life.
Our kids need us to train them. To get them strong and brave. To stop being so damn overprotective. To get them ready to thrive in a world that is changing rapidly. To know them. To build our values into their hearts. To stop abdicating our place in their lives to Disney or ABC Family or whatever the hell ridiculous stuff their friends are watching. That’s not a man’s life.
There is a movement afoot, gentlemen. The past election cycles have shown that that there is a generation of men who feel they have been quieted by society, who been made to feel ashamed of their power and strength because of the abuses of the past, who feel aimless, who feel overwhelmed by the busyness of life, who feel inadequate, who are angry, who are dead inside, who have allowed the comforts of technology to make them soft, but who are ready for a change. I’m ready to change a culture. I’m ready to show the world what men can be. A man who is strong. A man who provides. A man who protects. A man who loves. A man who achieves.
I want more. Life so far has been good, even great. But I want more. I’m certain that I don’t have all the details right, and those things that I stand for might evolve over time, but I want to stand for the things that are important, right, and good. I want to have a purpose and to pass that on to my kids.
That doesn’t mean I intend to be an asshole. As my close friends can attest, I have plenty of asshole in me. But I don’t want to be an asshole. I want to be a good man and to be good at being a man. I’ll be thoughtful, I’ll be considerate, and I’ll be kind. But those who deal with me will know that they’re encountered strength, not weakness. I will not be tamed by a feminized culture that will not recognize the differences between men and women. I will not be bullied into becoming a feminized version of a man. And I won’t lose sight of the fact that women are wonderful, beautiful, and talented.
I want to be more. I know I’m not alone. You’re ready, too. Let’s roll. Let’s live the man’s life.
I’m an attorney, a husband for 20 years, and a father of four. And I’m restless. I’m convinced that there’s more in life for men than we’re getting. I’m ready for more, ready to lead my family on a tremendous journey. Join me.
