In honor of “YOU”

Reading these words, I felt a deep meaning touch my soul. I felt the need to compose this post and pay my respects. We focus so much on women being treated fairly, women rising from the ashes and achieving amazing things. Women who have been the underdog and fought unimaginable battles. Women so strong and inspiring that we are left in awe, feeling admiration as well motivation pulse through our veins. Women who become our roles models and thriving force in keeping us going. I see and hear you all. I honor your strengths and you know how I feel about you, but this post is not about you, my beloveds.

This post is about equally strong men who choose to walk the path less traveled every day, doing the right thing, and choosing for themselves. I see your courage to fight the battle, to stand alone and to keep going anyways. I see your scars of a sometimes cruel society and an unfair life. I see your hurt and the need for you to hide your feelings because it is expected of you, because you are a man. Yet it is so much more meaningful and authentic for you to show these emotions as well and lean on your warrior queens at times. This one is for you and may you always know how much you mean.

First of all, thank you for being.

“Here’s to the men who are learning to get themselves out of the way.

Here’s to the men holding space for those around them.

Here’s to the men who are facing their darkest selves.

Here’s to the men who are facing their light within.

Here’s to the men who each day test themselves to build resilience in a society that has gone soft.

Here’s to the men who admit to their mistakes.

Here’s to the men showing love to their inner child, therein addressing issues of anger and anxiety.

Here’s to the men who are battling and overcoming an internal war each day that no one else can understand.

Here’s to the men who are actively staying grounded.

Here’s to the men who take pride in their masculinity and express it in times of fun and in times of need.

Here’s to the men who understand the importance of physical exertion for their mental well-being.

Here’s to the men standing up to the ego influenced bullying and possession by other men.

Here’s to the men who will not be dictated to by opinion.

Here’s to the men who express their emotions and aggression on one hand and their love and compassion on the other, doing so with conscious thought.

Here’s to the men who are breaking negative patterns of behaviour handed down before them from generation to generation.

Here’s to the men dealing with the trauma placed upon them and learning from those lessons.

Here’s to the men who are forging their own identity in a time of mixed messages from the world around them.

Here’s to the men standing firm in their vulnerability as old paradigms slip away.

Here’s to the men who move with their passions and interests.

Here’s to the men keeping their rationality in times of turmoil.

Here’s to the men who are unlearning what they have learnt.

Here’s to the men who do give a fuck.

Honouring the sister’s who are supporting.

Honouring the work it takes from both men and women to create a better society.

Honouring all involved!

Aho!”~

~Vina Von Bliss