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I like how you started with “things fall apart” and ended with “taking things apart”. As a female, I contemplate my relationship with femininity, and think about how, through the years, I had expectations of masculinity which sometimes offended men I knew... expectations and assumptions which were stereotypes which, thankfully, I have opened up to new wider perspectives.

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Thanks so much Karen. I love how writing works that way when it comes together... I didn't start out intending to end that way, but then of course that's where it ended up.

I'd love to hear more about how your expectations / ideas about masculinity have changed.

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Great read! Minus the excellent content and references, the flow of words is entertaining in itself. And again, you fed me an outline for my own writing. At nine days before my sixty-fifth birthday, and after the same number of days hiking the mountains in Arizona, my torn meniscus finally sidelined me. So for the the remainder of my trip I’m relegated to the weight room, pool and hot tub-but I’ll be back.

Back in Canada-snowshoeing, x-country skiing, kite snowboarding in the dunes at Grand Beach, kite skiing on the frozen lake and ice fishing for walleye.

Then preparing for spring-cycling, paddle boarding, kitesurfing, planting and foraging for food until I can’t.

Or maybe off to Columbia for stem cell therapy? So much to do and so little time.

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right on John, thank you! sounds like you are getting out there, way to go man! Now that I'm fully moved into my new place & storage cleared out, my van is ready for kite/wing-foil season here. Stoked to get out in the Bay!

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Wow. Holy crap. This is spot-on. Your stack is becoming Required Reading for me. That was exactly what I needed to hear today. Like coffee and/or spiritual medicine. (Especially since I’m sick today.) Feeling like the center within us won’t hold; the fear and anxiety; the confused relationship with conventional masculinity; your attachment style being ‘desperate,’ etc: Know that you write for so many of us. Thanks man. Seriously. Good stuff.

Michael Mohr

‘The Incompatibility of Being Alive’

https://reallife82.substack.com/

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coffee and spiritual medicine -- I'll take it!! thank you brother!

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Mar 3, 2023
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so sweet, thank you Danielle

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