Becoming Men

I turned 45 on Friday. Important time for reflection. It was good to notice the ways in which I’ve grown. And it was just as important to feel the ways in which I’m still growing.

Last week I sent a note on the sins of adolescence. I want to make room to talk about these tonight. I am wondering who among us feels like you had good models of masculinity growing up. 

I keep thinking about the flood of testosterone coming into our bodies. About the intensity of sexual desire. About our bodies wanting movement and sometimes aggression. Most of us did not have good guides to help us work with all of that. We were left on our own when it came to working with all of the energy moving inside of us. And so we stumbled our way through.

I wasn’t the worst of boys. But I know I am often embarrassed when I reflect on the ways in which I came into my masculinity. I know I wish I could go back and apologize. And I know that this work of atonement harkens back all the way to those days of adolescence. 

How about you?

What was becoming a man like for you?

How can we atone for mistakes made along the way?

Looking forward to being with you.

Saludos,

Gibrán