#mens issues

A message I want to give to all of you out there: the boys, the men, the guys, the blokes, the dudes, the hes, the hims, the sometimes-hims, and the him-leanings.

You have the right to express yourself emotionally, as much as you are comfortable with, as much as you need to, and as much as you want to. Never let anyone tell you this isn’t true. Never let anyone tell you “boys don’t cry” or to “take it like a man.” Never let anyone else dictate how you express your emotions, and especially don’t let them tell you you can’t express them at all.

Your emotions are yours. More than that, your emotions are you. Let nobody take away who you are because it doesn’t fit their own personal ideals of what makes someone a man. Emotion, and being emotional, are not weaknesses.

Hug. Laugh. Cry. Yell. Be happy. Be sad. Be angry. None of these are wrong.

If you have trouble with these things, if you’re unsure of how to, or feel that pressure telling you that you shouldn’t do them, then there are people out there who can help you. There are people out there who want to help you. Reach out to friends and family. Find local groups focused on these issues – Google is your friend! If one of them gives you those same tired lines of “boys don’t cry” and more of the same, then that person is not your road to help. Don’t stop at the first hurdle. Find someone else who will listen. They’re out there. We are out there. Please. Find help. It’s okay.

I’m… not good at these things, but I really want to help people. If anyone has an issue with anything I’ve said - maybe I messed up a point, phrased something badly, or worse - let me know and I’ll address it. I want this to be a positive message. I want to help.