What does it mean to be a man? In our culture, there are so many mixed messages on masculinity. Most young men have been taught that men don’t cry and that men are supposed to be tough and dominant. If you look at games like Grand Theft Auto or listen to mainstream music, misogyny is acceptable and often promoted. Men have also been taught to demean other men if they come across as weak, then referring to another man as a b*tch. If we as a culture want peace within our communities, the mistreatment of women in our society has to change.
Boys you must learn to love yourselves. You need to learn to take care of your entire being: mind, body and soul. Before you get into a relationship, you require a healthy relationship with yourself. In this day in age, there are many children growing up without father figures. Whether or not you realize it, men have a female and masculine side. If you have not had a father figure in your life, it’s often difficult to establish healthy relationships with others until you make peace within yourself.
Forgiveness will change your life experience. We need to forgive the past; in order, to enjoy the future. We have the opportunity to create healthy communities and homes once we learn to love ourselves and then in turn value and adore the people in our lives. Take your time getting to know yourself fellas, get to know your family history to better understand the ways you were raised, spend time taking care of yourself on a daily basis and know the future is up to you. By one day being a good father, you have the opportunity to change the course of history by changing the way you treat people: first starting with you!
