April 30, 1997 (Day 42 – milepoint 450.3 – Damascus, VA)
No miles today. Ate breakfast. Took a nap. Ate lunch. Went to the Post Office. Ate lunch #2. Sat in the sun. Took a nap. Tore up the inside of my mouth with an entire box of Cap’n Crunch cereal for dinner. Celebrated Grandma’s 56th birthday with cake and ice cream for dessert. Brushed my teeth three times. Ready for bed at sunset.
Aquaholic
April 30, 2009
Hey Aquaholic,
So, as I was saying yesterday – funny thing, being a man.
A female friend was recently expressing compassion for her husband, for how difficult she thought it must be to “be a man” when life’s circumstances can sometimes make the role of provider such a challenge.
“Men are alone,” she said. “They’re flung out into the world and expected to find their way…they’re judged by the sum of their material production…the greater the provisions, the greater the power, the greater the value of the man…”
There is a lot of truth to this. Truth that I won’t criticize, but simply recognize.
My problems are the result of me not being in command of all aspects of my life, and, therefore, losing my power in those aspects. I have regularly accommodated others at the expense of my own needs. I’ve thrown caution to the wind with decisions that needed to be more rooted to the ground with practical reason.
What constitutes being an adequate or abundant provider varies from person to person. And much of what we value as individuals is liable to change as we move through life.
But what I believe to be the most consistently true answer to the question, “What does it mean to be a man?” is: I am the master of my domain. This is what I value. This is what gives me power. Wealth and power are byproducts of a man who is the master of his domain. I was a more successful provider to the people in my life in a year when I made $10,000 and lived within my means than in a year when I made $80,000 and lived outside of my means.
This is not rocket science. Why do we sometimes treat it like it is?
I am the master of my domain. I am reclaiming command of my life so that I can be a more abundant provider to others.
O’
