A New Beginning

I've had a major epiphany!
It's one of those "monkey touches the monolith" moments that truly inspire creativity.
As a reader of this blog, you may have noticed that there's been a noticeable drop-off in blog entries. Nearly a month's worth. Well, this has been intentional. I needed time to evaluate my message.
     The epiphany happened when I realized that to Be A Man Now is more than making interesting comments on modern male behavior as my blog had been depicting. Don't misunderstand. That's fine and all, but I aspire to make a difference. I want this blog to matter. In fact, it should be something that gives the reader a new, focussed and unique perspective... and it should do it with a whack!
Subtlety is a luxury at this point. I'm 49 years old, and I have a story to tell. And one thing's for sure, authentic stories spread and they last. So, stay tuned my dear readers. The Be A Man Now blog is having a new beginning... starting NOW!

Things Change

Things change. That's for certain. There's no reason to hang onto outdated myths or useless things, and that should be a lesson for everyone. (The earth is flat, eight track cassettes, trickle-down economics, buggy whips all come to mind.) The most recent outdated believe is that sit-ups make the soldier. The U. S. Army has decided that the thirty year old fitness requirements for service are due for a major makeover.
     The old thinking had soldiers doing sit-ups, push-ups and a two mile run twice a year to fulfill their fitness requirements. It was an admittedly old school way of thinking that needed a change. Now, the soldiers will have to run on a balance beam with two 30 pound canisters of ammunition, drag a sled with 180 pounds of sandbags and vault over obstacles while carrying full combat gear. It's all part of the military's new "combat readiness" test that measure elements of strength, endurance and mobility.
     It means something when a major institution changes it's ways. Evaluating what works and adapting to change is important, especially when lives are on the line during wartime. The challenge of being adaptable is being fast enough and brave enough to embrace the new, not just to rely on outdated beliefs that don't get the best results. Things change. What should you change?
    
    

The Best Movie

Is The Shawshank Redemption the best movie of ALL TIME? Well, according to the users of the Internet Movie Database web site it is.
     Considering that the IMDB site is probably the largest congregation of movie fans, eager to express their opinions with great passion, it's a distinct ranking for a movie that was a flop at the box office on it's original theatrical run.
     But, the BEST movie EVER? Classic films like Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard and The Third Man ranked comparatively low in the same poll. Maybe that says something about younger, internet-savvy movie fans who resist older films that are shot in black and white. Who knows.
     Quite possibly, Shawshank's high ranking might be due to the movie's great acting, great direction, great script, great cinematography, great musical score and great "escapist" twist ending. Personally, I love the movie. Like most men. In fact, in all my years, I have NEVER met a man who doesn't enjoy The Shawshank Redemption. Isn't that interesting?
     The movie has many running themes that make it universally well-liked. It's a prison movie that deals with issues of despair, hope and eventual freedom...but, at the root of it is the friendship of the two main characters. And THAT's what I think makes it an all time great movie. The friendship is intelligent, honorable and mature. It's not played for silly, moronic humor like most movies about male friendship.
     The Shawshank Redemption may not be the best movie of all time. That's a matter of opinion. But, it's the best movie for men.

Brother's Day

My older brother Don sent me this message today... it's Brother's Day.
Be the kind of man that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says, "Oh Crap, He's up!"
Brother, life is too short to wake up with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, and forgive the people who don't treat you right... just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. 
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.
Take a few minutes to think before you act when you're mad. Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy. He just promised it would be worth it.
Today is Brother's Day, so send this message to all your brothers, father and sons.
If you get seven replies back, you are loved. To the cool men that have touched my life. Here's to you!

A real Brother walks with you when the rest of the world walks ON you.

Happy Brother's Day! I love you, Brother! 

Testosterone-Driven Life

Did you know that the fastest motorcycle in the world goes from 0 to 250 miles an hour in fourteen seconds? You may ask yourself, "Does anyone need to go THAT fast?" Of course not. However, for the purchase price of $250,000... anyone who can afford the motorcycle deserves the opportunity. Don't you think?
     A bigger question is: Have you noticed that there are men that are fascinated with danger and the possibility of self-destruction? The extreme nature appeals to them. Well, there's an explanation. It's part of the testosterone-driven life. I'm talking about the naturally occurring male hormone that promotes good health in men. For instance, testosterone lowers the risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks in men, but conversely, it also contributes to their aggressive side. This explains why some men tend to be attracted to sky diving, bungee jumping, cliff diving... and other high-risk activities like drinking high-proof alcohol and smoking unfiltered cigarettes. It's all a part of being a man now. It's science. Embrace it.

Brilliant Advice

In the iconic motion picture, The Godfather, Don Vito Corleone is a respected, older, wiser patriarch of his family. Granted, it's a ruthless, organized crime family, but you get the point. He's a father who feels responsible for his family, and in his line of work, he doesn't survive unless he's shrewd and insightful. Don Coreleone has some great advice to give. "A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man." Or, "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer." Brilliant advice. Short and direct.
     Years ago, I was working for a company, but I let it be known that I was itching to leave and start my own company. One day, as I was contemplating my exit strategy, a man stopped me in the hall. He was a wiser, older man who was prone to saying too much. I braced myself. I didn't want to hear it. I was looking for some Don Vito Corleone advice, and I knew I wasn't going to hear it from him. He just sighed and said, "If you're going to do it, do it now. Waiting for later is pointless." Then he walked away. Best advice I ever got. Short and direct. And he wasn't even Sicilian.


    

Living The Strenuous Life

They named the Teddy Bear after him, but this man was no cuddly child's toy. Theodore Roosevelt was a Renaissance Man in every sense of the word. A man of many talents. Of course, he's best known for being the 26th President of the United States, but do people know that he was a war hero and medal of honor winner as a cowboy member of the Roughrider Calvary Unit? This man oozed macho masculinity. Famous for being an outdoorsman, historian, avid reader, author, boxer and explorer. He even studied judo while in office. Yes, you read that correctly. Teddy had a third degree brown belt.
     President Roosevelt often said that he enjoyed, "living the strenuous life" in the natural world. This meant he had a lifelong interest in hiking, horseback riding, swimming, mountain climbing, camping, hunting, rowing and fishing. He believed in adventure and the rugged lifestyle, but he also admired the solitude and healing aspects of nature. He called it "perfect freedom."
     So, is this a riff on the need for exercise? Or, a riff on being a Renaissance Man? Not really... This is a riff on enjoying life outdoors. You see, Teddy had asthma as a child and wasn't allowed to leave the house. In response to his physical weakness, he decided to embrace a strenuous life as an adult. We can learn something from this outdoors-man.