Well, it is easy. And it's the hardest thing in the world. It's both.

Look. Using logic, reason, basic observation, and comsidering what would make the best widespread well being of all people ... men ought to get to thebidea that Masculinity is off the rails a bit.

Y'all went to school just like I did. You learned to read too. I'm guessing you had elders who habitually told you to use your head for something other than a hat rack (some version of it) too. Many of thosenmale elders were not like what you see advertised as Masculinity today. And they weren't so fussed and constantly stressin' about it either. They just lived their lives.

You know if you're content with your life or not. You don't need some brocaster to tell you that.

At some point, you've already questioned. You've asked yourself some version of, "If this Masculinity package is my best life.....then why's it got my chest so tight?"

Well, that's because it's a straightjacket. Somebody has sold you bad goods. And now you're all wound up and not doing well.

That's step 1. And it's very easy.

Step 2 is accepting it. Now things get a little more difficult. Nobody but nobody likes to admit they've been duped. Getting through step 2 means admitting you've been duped and made a fool of yourself. And dealing with that psychological wound. It's gonna be hard and messy. There will be howlings and meltdowns. How could it not be this?

Step 3 gets even harder. It's making a commitment to change. That means you have to steel yourself to go against the grain. To chart your own course. To go against the herd. It can be isolating. You'll feel very alone and question yourself.

Step 4. Harder still. Step four is picking up the burden to reexamine gender ideas. It's exhausting and thankless work. You'll be shocked at those who feel the need to put themselves against you. You'll be scrutinized and mocked every fucking step of the way. Your efforts will be plagues with failures. Still, you soldier on.

Step 5 is a gutpunch. You'll have done all this work and struggled to hold the course. All to realize it doesn't matter in the end. At least, not for you. You're not going.to see the benefits of all that work and struggle. The next generation will. And you can't make people see what they don't want to look at. Those next generations will not understand or appreciate your sacrifice for the most part. And a swipe of a pen can easily strip it all away. It may aleays be there.

Gut punch.

But at least you can breathe.