What We Are Doing Right

I’m looking forward to our call today. Interestingly, it happens to be the birthday of my father, Pedro, and my son’s mother, Samantha. What a perfect day to be talking masculinity!

Alan Brisley sent me a provocative e-mail asking me to reconsider “masculine pride” as the invitation into today’s conversation. He named ways in which “masculine pride” can tend to push us into a patriarchal framework of identity. I am not quite persuaded, but I am moved by his concern. And I committed to sit with the inquiry. (Alan blogs at The New Old Way).

It will certainly make for a good conversation among us.

But I want to wait a bit. I want to invite us to start this decade by bringing our attention to what we are doing right. There is so much shame. There is so much that we need to get better at. There are so many ways in which we are burdened by patriarchy and its conditioning.

But we would not be coming to these calls if we were not at least trying. It was Seth Kirshenbaum who invited us to consider an appreciative inquiry. What are you doing right in this quest to relinquish patriarchy? What are other men doing that is inspiring to you? What kind of man are you aspiring to become? Who do you look up to? How have you changed for the better?

Let’s come ready to celebrate our effort. Let’s appreciate each other tonight. It is good to learn from the bright spots.

Talk soon!

Saludos,

Gibrán