I frequently consider how incredible men are. Father’s Day seems like a fine time to put these thoughts and this gratitude into written form. International Men’s Day would also be a great time, but I’ve chosen to indulge in this opportunity as well.
(Pictured below are a few prominent men in my own life.)
Happy Father’s Day to all who are fathers in any kind of way. Whether you offer your fatherly ways, wisdom, and masculine energy to others, or have your own biological children, adopted children, were unable to father children, were judged for not wanting to have children, are grieving the loss of your own dad, struggling to become a dad, lost a child.. So many of you are fathers in one way or another.
You are seen. You are appreciated. You are heard.
The words you’ve left unspoken are also heard.
I often consider how much men do and contribute. I admire your strength, your hard work, your resilience. When something needs fixed, we call on you. When something needs built, we call on you. When we need a voice of reason or logical answer, we call on you. When we need “rescued” from nearly any situation we call on you.
You are raising kids, helping friends, you’re sharing your strength and skills and knowledge with us, you’re “manning” the grill, paving our roads. You’re hauling materials, you’re loading trucks. You’re building, maintaining, fixing infrastructures of all kinds- roadways, railroads, communication / IT, waste management, etc. Your skills and strengths and knowledge they surely aren’t unnoticed.
You’re shouldering the pressures to be tough, to always put on your game face. You’re doing all these things while providing for your families. While protecting those you care for. And for those of you who have small children you’re doing it all while making time to be a Daddy, a buddy, a positive male role model.
On Father’s Day and everyday I celebrate you and your masculine energy!
Quotes to Celebrate Our Fathers and Men:
One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters. ~George Herbert
Some people don’t believe in heroes but they haven’t met my dad.
Being a good man is something you do, not something you are.
And lastly a personal favorite by William Shakespeare:
Women may fall when there’s no strength in men.
There is always someone to celebrate on Father’s Day. I hope that no matter your situation, you’re able create a perspective that allows you to do exactly that – celebrate this day for all that it represents, for all that our men are.
