mmm, provocative piece, Jason. Thanks for sharing. I'm reminded of an insight I stumbled on yesterday about how masculinity is defined in part by the willingness to subject ourselves to unnecessary suffering... often in pursuit of something undefinable or unattainable (in your case you had something definite, but I think the point holds). Here:
"I live out my masculinity most often as a perverse avoidance of comfort: the refusal of good clothes, moisturizer, painkillers; hard physical training, pursued for its own sake and not because I enjoy it; a sense that there is a set amount of physical pain or self-imposed discipline that I owe the universe." Phil Christman: https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/identitieswhat-are-they-good-for/articles/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-man
Good to have you back, Jason. "Well rounded" student athlete is usually a euphemism for someone who excels at school and athletics. In reality, it's anything but. Glad you were able to share your lesson from your experience.
I love to read your essays. They are so insightful and real. “The twisted roads we travel”… we really don’t understand until we can get to a place, turn around and see, those roads are, why we are who we have become.❤️
Jason, you’re such an amazing writer and storyteller and I strongly relate to this essay. Thanks for sharing 🙌🏾
mmm, provocative piece, Jason. Thanks for sharing. I'm reminded of an insight I stumbled on yesterday about how masculinity is defined in part by the willingness to subject ourselves to unnecessary suffering... often in pursuit of something undefinable or unattainable (in your case you had something definite, but I think the point holds). Here:
"I live out my masculinity most often as a perverse avoidance of comfort: the refusal of good clothes, moisturizer, painkillers; hard physical training, pursued for its own sake and not because I enjoy it; a sense that there is a set amount of physical pain or self-imposed discipline that I owe the universe." Phil Christman: https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/identitieswhat-are-they-good-for/articles/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-man
Good to have you back, Jason. "Well rounded" student athlete is usually a euphemism for someone who excels at school and athletics. In reality, it's anything but. Glad you were able to share your lesson from your experience.
I look forward to our Man Dates!
I love to read your essays. They are so insightful and real. “The twisted roads we travel”… we really don’t understand until we can get to a place, turn around and see, those roads are, why we are who we have become.❤️