Fathers’ Day To Real Men!

Dr. Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com

I am naturally a man. I chose to be a father and a husband, I could have opted otherwise. Being an Uncle and a brother are natural too, a status by virtue of being a man, neither consulted nor my opinon sought.

I am a man , divinely orchestrated. Can’t prove how I became a man, nature made it so. Nothing anybody can do to change my man-hood, my father-hood, my brother-hood, my uncle-hood and my husband-hood.

These are hoods very irreversable, even though one never chose some of them, till death do us part remains the signature seal on them

Do I need any ritual, any ceremonies of chastisement, pain endurance etc to prove my being a man? It is nature’ gift with no reversal. I am a man, given by nature, even if I cry passing through pains, cringing and wriggling at the whip and strokes of cains, I am still a man!

I am human, I cry, I laugh, chuckle and get angry. I, am a man! I show my weakness, flaunt my strength, I hide none, in them I find my real self.

I am a man, I react to emotions, I am not a stone, some kind of inanimate being . I am a man, I live real, no pretence around me.

I am a man, even when I cry over the burden and challenges of life on me, seeking genuinely for help, I am still a man.

I am a man when I cry and shed tears at the face of life challenges. When traditions and customs subject me to a torturous and cruel flagellation, expecting me to be calm and bear it in equanimity. Still a man if I cry , groan and weep.

Still a man, even when life folds and squeezes, throwing muds and pebbles, making one vulnerable , weak without steeze and glamour.

Still a man even when one cries loud seeking for help.

Be a man! Doesn’t mean to bottle up pains and die in silence. Be a man isn’t an invitation to face a roaring hungry lion with a bare hand .

Be a man is not a call for senseless braggadacio. Be a man is not a call to carry the whole world on ones head and pretend to be cool and comfortable while one dies inside.

Be a man is about openess. It is about speaking truth to ones reality. It is about knowing ones limit and maintaining boundaries without over stretching the elastic limits to impress.

It is about accepting ones weakness and accentuating the strength. About openess, sincerity, integrity, values and will power.

Happy fathers’ day to all men, who take daily the challenges of father-hood, uncle-hood, husband-hood and brother-hood without overburding themselves, operating in sincerity within the boundaries of the strength of their potential, values and worth.

Happy fathers’ day to those real men who do not hide their tears, worries, pains, challenges etc but talk about them with no shame and embarrasment.

Happy fathers’ day to correct men, boldly acknowledging their human flaws, weakness, not playing macho while bleeding inside.

You have one life to live, once one dies, the world won’t stand still . It moves and continues to rotate. Wife, children and loved ones wouldn’t pause their lives for your sake. Life continues even much better.

Be a man! By being human, acknowledging your limits and vulnerability.

A real man knows his weakness, expresses it and lives long . Better than a man who denies his weakness, bottles emotions and shys away from crying but dies of burdens and challenges he could have shared but won’t because he wants to be A MAN! Idiotic!!

Tomorrow 4th of May is Father’s day. Appreciate any father in your life who is a real man. They pass through a lot and the burden they carry unimaginable. Don’t insensitively add more to it. Be their burden sharer!

Find time today, tomorrow or within the month to give yourself a massage at any good Spa. The experience would be nothing less loving and refreshing. Happy Fathers’ day in advance real men!!