The Man Within

i listened to a story the other day
about a boy who finally decided to become a man
there was no celebration or ritualistic initiation
no light bulbs, no epiphanies or new realizations
this boy decided to become a man all by himself


he made up his mind from that day forward:

he would stop blaming others for his misfortunes
he would care for those he loved, and be loyal no matter what
he would start giving more of himself to others
he wouldn't wrestle so much with truth, but would let the truth come naturally, as the truth always does
he would pray and try with all his might to realize something bigger than himself
he would respect his elders, especially his mother and father- no matter what kind of past he had with them
he would go out of his comfort zone
he would open up to a world that scared him when he was a boy
he would love, and allow himself to be loved

this man smiled as he told his story
he said he didn't need a life-changing event to become a man
he just needed to do the right things in his life
and face his fear and his pain and his suffering
and take care of the boy within himself
he told me that deep inside him

the man was there all along.