I Can Predict What 99% of Men Will Say When Asked This Question...
- Larry Potter
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
When you ask a man, "How are you doing?" the response is almost always, "Good." If you ask, "How is the job?" the answer is still, "Good." "How is the marriage?" "Good." Even if you ask, "How is that nail sticking out of your hand?" "Good." Why do men avoid discussing the difficult aspects of their lives?
Many men tend to avoid expressing their feelings because of social conditioning that equates emotional vulnerability with weakness. This belief suggests that masculinity means enduring pain without showing or discussing it. From a young age, many boys are taught to "man up" and suppress their emotions. This can lead to fears of appearing weak, burdening others, or facing rejection.
And yet, contrary to common belief, research shows that men are highly relational and often desire romantic relationships even more than women do. They frequently prioritize mending relationships and seeking long-term partnerships. One reason for this is that men typically have smaller, less emotionally supportive social networks and often depend more heavily on their romantic partners for emotional support than women do.
In simple terms, when our social calendars are empty, our bodies pay a heavy price.
This lack of emotional expression can lead to strained marital relationships, increased anxiety, and depression. Over time, unexpressed emotions may manifest in unhealthy ways, such as anger, substance abuse, or emotional outbursts.
Our connections with others are vital for our survival and well-being. However, as we age, many of us find ourselves alone more often, leaving us vulnerable to social
isolation and loneliness. This can lead to related health problems such as cognitive decline, depression, and heart disease.
We need other men who can encourage us and stand with us, just as we should be there for them when times get tough.
Older men need to find their reason for living and seek out others who share their views. That means reaching out and participating with others in groups and shared activities.
If your social network has dwindled, or if you need a good laugh or want to learn something new, consider joining our "Brotherhood Breakfast Club", which meets every Wednesday at 8 AM at the IHOP in Dawsonville.
What I enjoy most about this group, beyond the camaraderie, is that we have a different speaker each week who shares their life stories, or how God has recently spoken to them through scripture or various circumstances.
Another aspect I appreciate about our group is our "road trips." Last month, after breakfast, we gathered at Bulls Eye Sportsman Gun Club in Cumming for indoor target shooting. As you can see from the photo, it’s been about 30 years since I practiced with my handguns, but we still had a great time.
A couple of weeks back, we went to the NASCAR Museum in Dawsonville and did some virtual reality NASCAR driving. Now I see why their wives drive them around most of the time. These guys can't drive!😂 In a few weeks, we will be Kyaking on Lake Lanier.
We are so confident that you will enjoy our breakfast meetings that they come with a money-back guarantee: if you attend and don’t enjoy them, we will reimburse you for your $6 senior breakfast. Got any questions, you can click "contact me" at the top of the page or email me at lastbestbite@gmail.com
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