Hi,
It’s International Women’s Day today. I’ve been thinking about how to acknowledge it. I just want to celebrate the women in my life who I simply would not be here without. To say thank you. To say I see you and I love you and I honour you. I’m in awe of you. I’m inspired by you. I have no problem doing this in real life but have been unsure how to acknowledge it publicly without it appearing performative.
I know a newsletter or social media post doesn’t cut it. Women I speak to want, need and deserve so much more and they’re telling me how fed up they are to be the ones who have to keep asking for it. ‘What’s with men?’ you ask.
Men are lost, it seems. We don’t always know what to do but we want to do it well. We are afraid of saying the wrong thing, not knowing enough, feeling responsible for all of it and drowning in the shame and guilt of failing, of not being able to fix it. Because we want to, we really do. Instead, we become defensive, shut down and nothing changes.
Men want to do better and be better however, I know this. I speak with these men, I work with these men, I am these men. We’re lacking elders and we’re starving for rites of passage. We grew up without good role models, teachers, guides, examples. And so we must become them.
I don’t know how best to do that. I’m learning, I’m making mistakes and getting it wrong and I’ll keep trying. I’m learning from women and men and looking to other men for guidance, support and for leadership.
There are so many good men ‘out there’ – men who are allies and advocates and leaders for the change that’s required of us now. If you’re a man who feels uncertain or afraid to speak up or to step in, I get it. Don’t let that stop you, we need you. We have big work to do, let’s do it together.
To the women in my life – I honour you.
Michael
If you are a man who want’s to contribute to this change, please join us in the next Men’s Circle. And if you’re a woman who has a man in your life who may not read this, please share the invitation with him.
Hi Mikey, I really relate to what you wrote and I appreciate you writing it on behalf of men. There is work to be done and it makes me glad men like you are doing it. It makes a difference. Lotsa love xx