Why do men have to "be a man"? Ever notice that most... (not all) refuse to go to counselor? Even my own father refuse, well, he did for almost one full year for my sake's. Afterward, he never go again. Even my mom asked him to. He refused. Again, he only go to counselor for my sake's when I needed him to be there when I was with counsler, myself.
Ya know? When my ex and I were together for 3 most wonderful months, somehow it slowly go down the drain. Things changed and nothing seems going right. Everything I did wrong this and that. The way I respond (or react) is inapporiate. Everything is my fault. He blamed on me because I'm spoiled brat only child who have no brother or/and sister. If I did something wrong, I went to counselor to straight this out for my relationship. Later, I notice nothing improved. I asked and begged him to come, he only went once. Our relationship had improved for a week or so. Later, it went down the drain, again. I asked him and yet he refused. Everything I have to do to make the relationship works and it's all on ME. Later, I realized, it take TWO to make the relationship works. It take TWO to agree to bond together. It takes TWO to have sexual relationship. It takes TWO to agree to have babies or not. If one disagree, then back off such as one does not want to do certain things, respect that person's wish until TWO agree. Everything has to be partnership. I realize I'm the ONE who wants to make the relationship works and he doesn't. He never had loved me because of his NPD. NPD will never make the relationship works. He refused.
Ya know? A very good chance that my dad does have NPD; however, with that one year of counselor, he had improved himself in so many ways. Plus, he was young. The younger the person who go to counselor, the person's behavior is a lot better than older person such as my ex. He's older. He's only about 15 years younger than my dad but he's older. My dad start young by going through counselor. It's too late for my ex.
However, my dad still believes in "be a man" such as he must in control of himself and the family. He believes that if he's not able to take care then he's not "a man". Going counselor would make them feel less man. That's a myth but sadly so many men out there doesn't see that because of every gerenation. that was what been taught. He also believe that taking anti-depression pill would make him less man, too. He refuse to take it. One day, my mom did threaten for a divorce if he didn't take it. So he did. Haha. My mom did had enough with my dad's depression. Since my mom did put it up with mine when I was in H.S. I don't blame my mom for that.
I remember so strongly as yesterday. I don't remember what verse. I forgotten them a lot. I was sitting in the audience and listen to this guy who preaching the gospel of God through KJV Bible. I'm paraphasing here. He said that if you can't take care of a family then you can't take care of the church. If there's something wrong with the family then you must resign or straight this out. That's same for any buisness. I thought to myself how so WRONG is that? I mean, people are not perfect and so is the family. I won't be surprised if that man's wife ended up having manic depression. Does that means something wrong with you because you can't fix it? So that means you have to resign or HIDE. Best way to do is HIDE. Don't tell and show and etc. So ashamed... disgrace.... Just because you can't take care of you family doesn't mean that you can't do your job at work and same with at the Church. Nobody is perfect and never will be.
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Be A Man" Talk about myths.
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Men refuse to go to counselor.
Here's the cute and funny but interesting point of view:
What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage?Well, I left my ex because I knew that he never loved me because he never once shows. I left him because EVERYTHING is my fault. I'm
ALWAYS fault. I
NEVER get it right.
There are many things that I learned from my counselor about relationship and she pointed out one thing that we often get into fight or becoming defensive is two words "Always" and "Never".
I didn't notice that because when my ex said that "You NEVER listen to me", "You ALWAYS wrong and NEVER get it right." I repeat of what he said, "I'm always wrong." He said, "right!" I said again, "ALWAYS wrong?" He nodded, again. I said one word, "ALWAYS?" He stopped and thought for a moment, "Welllll..... Not Always but 99% that you are wrong." I respond, "So, 99% that I NEVER get it right." He nodded in agreement, "yep". I realize he had often use those two words. That explains why we had fight a lot is because of two words that he had uses. I told him that I did listen and I repeat of what he said ealier. He respond, "At least there's a hope for you."
Here's another one, when I got myself an offer for an internship. I was thrilled. I told him that I got it. He looked at me and said, "That's an offer. You didn't get the internship." I said, "If I respond, 'yes' then I would have an internship." He looked at me, "You're stupid than I thought." Confused and bewilderment, I went to career center to see my career counselor and asked him do I have an internship or not? He said that I do have it and in fact, he did went to contact to that postion thru the phone and ask them. So I really do have an internship and I was thrill about that. My career counselor said, "whoever said that to you is sound like VERY jealous of you. Don't let that person put you down." He wrote the quote from Elenor Rooselvelt (sp?) "Do not let anyone put you down unless you let them." paraphasing again. I thought that can't be true that my ex is jealous of me. So, I decided to approach him with cool and calm. I said that I went to career counselor and I do have internship for real. He said, "conglatation" (sp?). Then I tried to tell him that I didn't apprecate ealier that he mention that it's an offer and didn't get the internship. He said, "I don't know what you are talking about." I replied, "okay, but don't do that next time, anyway." He brought this up, "Let's talk about past, I know that you love talk about past." I looked at him, "Are you so sure that's where you want to go?" He realized what he had said then, "Never mind, let's go." I grinned. He and I went out. While he locked the door, "You are pest, ya know that?" I asked, "Can you explain how can I be pest?" He thought for a moment, "I don't know, you just ARE!" I smiled, "If you can't explain that I'm a pest; therefore, I'm NOT a pest." He gave me a sharp looked, "If you going to make me upset, then it's your fault!" He walked off. We went to meet his friends. There is one of his friend who also backed him up for about it's an offer and not internship. I decided to tell his friends that it's not just an offer, I really did got the internship and they're ready for me to come. So, I did. His friend said "congraltations" (sp?). I was going to tell his friend that I didn't apprecate of what happen ealier. Instead, my EX interprut and said, "that's not important, I saw really cool movie ealier on TV!" he was busy to think what's the name of the movie. I interpruted, "That's not important." He stopped and looked at me then walked off. I ran up to him and grab his shoulder. I wanted to try to explain that what I want to say is important as much as yours. And I feel that you doesn't respect me nor listen to me. Instead, he turned around, "Don't touch me or I'm calling security!" He continued to walk off. I left, too. His friends are on his side and never heard of my side of the story. Truth is, I didn't care anymore. I already got tired of him. My love for him was gone. I do mean completely gone. I was surprised that the fire of love has blown away quickly as the love comes in when I first met him. I thought that my love will never fade away but it did disappear like it never exist. However, the memory will stay and the lesson that I've learned will never leave.
Well, seem like I went off the subject.... Well, it's still relate to counselor, right? Haha, sorry, Get back to my point here. Why do most men thinks it has to "Be a man!"? Well, few reasons, it has been like that for generations. That's how men taught boys to "be a man." The cartoon Disney movie "Pocantatcs" (sp?) about indian woman who met white man. There's a leader who said to young boy, "A man is not a man, if he doesn't know how to shoot." So that's how they put down to others when emotional shows and refuse to shows the outside and afraid to be weak. Well, again, Elenor Roosevelt(sp?), "Don't let others put you down unless you let them." paraphasing as usual. Be the REAL you! Even it means to show your emotional. Don't wear mask, it's really wear your energy out.
Be ready for a long poem:
Don't be fooled by me Don't be fooled by the face I wear. I wear a mask. I wear a thousands masks--masks that I am afraid to take off; and none of them are me.
Pretending is an art that is second nature to me, but don't be fooled.
For God's sake, don't be fooled. I give the impression that I am secure, that all is sunny and unruffled within me as well as without; that confidence is my name and coolness my game; that the water is calm and I am in command' and that I need no one. But don't believe me, please. My surface may seem smooth, but my surface is my mask, my ever-varying and ever-concealing mask.
Beneath lies no smugness, no complacency. Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in fear, in aloneness. But I hide that. I don't want anybody to know it. I frantically create a mask to hide behind~ a nonchalant, sophisticated facade~ to help me pretend, to shield me from the glace that knows. But such a glace is precisely my salvation, my only salvation, and I know it. That is , if it's followed by acceptance, if it's followed by love. It's the only thing that can liberate me from myself from my own self built prison wall, from the barriers I so painstakingly erect. It's the only thing that will assure me of what I can't assure myself--that I am really something.
But I didn't tell you this. I don't dare. I'm afraid to. I'm afraid your glace will not be followed by acceptance and love. I'm afraid you'll think less of me, that you'll laugh, and your laugh would kill me; So I play my game, my desparate, pretending game, with a facde of assurance without, and a trembling child within.
And so begins the parade of masks, the glittering but empty parade of masks. My life becomes a front. I idly chatter to you in suave tones of surface talk. I tell you everthing that is nothing and nothing that is everthing of what's crying inside me.
So when I'm going through my routine, do not be fooled by what I am saying.
Please listen carefully and try to hear what I am not saying, what I would like to be able to say, what for survival I need to say, but I can't say. I dislike hiding, honestly, I dislike the superficial game I am playing, the superficial phony I am being I'd like to be really genuine and spontaneous and me. But you've got to help me. You've got to hold out your hand even when that's the last thing I seem to want or need. Only you can wipe away from my eyes the blank stare of the breathing dead.
Only you can call me into aliveness.
Each time you're kind and gentle and encouraging, each time you try to understand because you really care, my heart begins to grow wings, very small wings, very feeble wings-- but wings.
With your sensitivity and compassion and your power of understanding, you can breath life into me. I want you to know that I want you to know how imporant you are to me. So do not pass me by. Please do not pass me by. It will not be easy for you. My long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls. The nearer you approach the more blindly I might strike back. It's irrational, but despite what books say about a person. I am irrational. I gight against the very thing I cry out for. But I am told that love is stronger than the strongest walls, and in this lies hope. MY ONLY HOPE. Please try to beat down my wall with firm but gentle hands--for a child is very sensitive, very fearful.
Who am I, you may wonder? I am someon you know very well.
FOR I AM EVERY MAN YOU MEET. I AM EVERY WOMAN YOU MEET. I AM RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
~Anoymous~