Spring is in the air. The smell of mud and the opening of tree buds just seems to wake up not only the world outside our windows, but it seems to awaken something in us. Men, let’s take advantage of the natural cycle of the universe to reinvigorate our lives! Start by refreshing your mind. 1. Read Books. Are there books that would help you to break through any particular areas of your life? Any information that you need to learn? To refresh your mind, I recommend reading a book of fiction – something exciting and adventurous. Something non-fiction – maybe self-help, or a biography of someone you admire. And read a book of poetry! You might not be a poetry person – but I think there’s value in the rhymes and rhythms. 2. Take inventory. Examine your attitude. Examine your behaviors. Examine your influences. What things need to change? Make a physical list of things to change, and start making it happen.
3. Get aggressive. If you notice that you have been negative – make it a point to fight against the negative thoughts, replacing them with positive thoughts. Make a concerted effort to practice rebuking each bad thought. (out loud, if you have to!) “No. I will not think like this way!”
At Manlihood.com our mission is to educate, equip and entertain men in an engaging way. Fridays, we focus a bit on the entertainment, offering #manlymusicfriday – where we feature songs from a variety of genres that reflect the values of true masculinity. Want more ManlyMusic? Check out our playlist on Spotify!
Chris Cornell of Soundgarten and Audioslave is one of my favorite musicians. I’ve always loved his smooth bluesy grunge voice, and when he partners with country’s Zac Brown Band – look out. this song is fantastic
“Heavy Is The Head”
(feat. Chris Cornell)
[Chris Cornell:]
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
[Zac Brown:]
Black dog
Drinks from the water
Trying to cool his tongue
Like the king
Finds no peace
His work is never done
Night falls
Smoke on the water
Darkness closes in
Cold white hand, in the deep
Will drown you for your sins
[Zac Brown:]
It’s a lifelong expedition
Second-guessing your decisions
Trying to find out what’s been missing
Pages keep on filling
[Zac Brown:]
Crying out
Ooh go and wake the king
Call to arms
For those who kiss the ring
Stand your ground
The walls are coming down
It’s do or die
Do or die
[Chris Cornell:]
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
[Zac Brown:]
Mad man
Blood on the altar
The Queen will have his head
His ghosts will shake those rattling chains
Long after he’s dead
No soul knows his trouble
High upon his throne
Loved by few and judged by many
He bares that weight alone
[Chris Cornell:]
It’s a lifelong expedition
Second-guessing your decisions
Trying to find out what’s been missing
And the pages keep on filling
[Chris Cornell:]
Crying out
Ooh go and wake the king
Call to arms
For those who kiss the ring
Stand your ground
Yeah the walls are coming down
It’s do or die
Do or die
[Chris Cornell:]
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
The world we live in is so backward sometime.
In an age of participation trophies and lifetime welfare recipients, it’s no wonder we have forgotten some of the old ways.
I’m all for giving a hungry man a fish (and teaching him to fish.) Helping the poor is a priority and something I value. When I needed help, people helped me. I would be foolish not to believe that it matters.
But that’s not what I’m saying.
What I’m saying is – if we’re not careful to teach the old ways – we lose the very cultural values that make us great.
Helping the poor is one of them, surely.
But so is this one: Work is its own reward.
A life with value is a life of hard work. Not slavery, not unfair working conditions – but good old fashioned hard work.
There is value in picking the tomatoes you planted, cashing the paycheck you earned, and enjoying the simple fruits of your labor.
Let’s not forget that, and let’s reclaim that cultural value for future generations.
We’ve long said that March comes in and goes out inversely like a Lion or a Lamb. The thought of being one or the other may be a bit frightening for men. Especially in a culture that no longer appreciates the fierce and bold virtues that once marked manhood. Being a gentleman does not mean that a man gives up his strength – that a man is a pansy. Interestingly enough, my grandmother always told me that a pansy was actually a tough flower. It could stand against the cold, and grow in pretty adverse conditions… it still though has a reputation for being “girly” – and the flower’s name has been embedded culturally to imply weakness or a lack of masculinity. Men – to be a gentleman is a noble calling. It means that you treat people with respect. That you demonstrate politeness, it may mean that you are neat in your appearance, and that you have earned a degree of respect for your knowledge, your artistic abilities, your ability with words, with numbers, or some other “civilized” skill. You might also be a lumberjack, a rig hand, or a truck drive, and be a gentleman in the way you interact with people. But there’s definitely an element of respect shown and received, based on a degree of civility. This civility does not erase the wild, passionate strength that lies in a man’s heart. A gentleman can hold his own in a bout of fisticuffs or fencing. He can heft a child on to his shoulders, pick up his bride to carry her over the threshhold, and defend the tender things he holds dear with ferocity and strength. My thoughts on this are two-fold. 1. Just because you wear a tie to work, or drive a minivan, or eat kale – does not exempt you from the wilder side of manhood. Make sure that you know how to defend yourself and the things and people you love. Make sure you keep your physical body strong and ready to perform. 2. Inversely, just because you are a strong and brave, do not neglect the tender touches needed in civilized life. Say Please and Thank you. Snuggle with your children. Read poetry. These things do not affect your ability to be manly. In fact, I believe they enhance them.
Today’s #mancrushmonday is one of my favorites. I’ve been accused of crushing TOO hard on Bear Grylls, but the truth is – this guy is admirable, and worthy of respect. His simple and humble spirit, combined with a ferocious drive to succeed have earned him a place in the Manlihood halls of honor. Wikipedia says: Edward Michael “Bear” Grylls (born 7 June 1974) is a Northern Irish born British adventurer, writer and television presenter. He is widely known for his television series Man vs. Wild (2006–2011), originally titled Born Survivor: Bear Grylls in the United Kingdom. Grylls is also involved in a number of wilderness survival television series in the UK and US. In July 2009, Grylls was appointed the youngest-ever Chief Scout in the UK at age 35. Personal life
From an early age, he learned to climb and sail with his father, who was a member of the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron. As a teenager, he learned to skydive and earned a second danblack belt in Shotokan karate. He speaks English, Spanish, and French.[18] He is a Christian, and has described his faith as the “backbone” in his life.[19]
Grylls married Shara Cannings Knight in 2000.[3][11] They have three sons.[5][20] In August 2015, it was reported that Grylls had deserted his young son, Jesse, on Saint Tudwal’s Island along the North Wales coast, as the tide approached, leaving him to be rescued by the RNLI. The RNLI later criticised him for the stunt, saying its crew “had not appreciated” that a child would be involved.[21]
Military service
After leaving school, Grylls briefly considered joining the Indian Army and hiked in the Himalayan mountains of Sikkim and West Bengal.[22]
In 1996, Grylls suffered a freefall parachuting accident in Zambia. His parachute ripped at 4,900 metres (16,000 ft), partially opening, causing him to fall and land on his parachute pack on his back, which partially crushed three vertebrae. He later said, “I should have cut the main parachute and gone to the reserve but thought there was time to resolve the problem”.[23] According to his surgeon, Grylls came “within a whisker” of being paralysed for life and it was questionable whether he would ever be able to walk again. Grylls spent the next 12 months in and out of military rehabilitation at Headley Court[23]
On 16 May 1998, Grylls achieved his childhood dream of climbing to the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal, 18 months after breaking three vertebrae in a parachuting accident.[26] At 23, he was at the time among the youngest people to have achieved this feat. There is some dispute over whether he was the youngest Briton to have done so, as he was preceded by James Allen, a climber holding dual Australian and British citizenship, who reached the summit in 1995 at age 22.[27][28] The record has since been surpassed by Jake Meyer and then Rob Gauntlett who summitted at age 19. To prepare for climbing at such high altitudes in the Himalayas, in 1997, Grylls became the youngest Briton to climb Ama Dablam, a peak once described by Sir Edmund Hillary as “unclimbable”.[29]
And these are just a few of Grylls many accomplishments. This guy really is amazing. Not only that, he is full of wisdom. 1. “Survival can be summed up in three words – never give up. That’s the heart of it really. Just keep trying.” – Bear Grylls
“A man’s pride can be his downfall, and he needs to learn when to turn to others for support and guidance.” – Bear Grylls
“The line between life or death is determined by what we are willing to do.” – Bear Grylls
“Survival requires us to leave our prejudices at home. It’s about doing whatever it takes – and ultimately those with the biggest heart will win.” – Bear Grylls
“I loved climbing because of the freedom, and having time and space. I remember coming off Everest for the last time, thinking of Dad and wishing that he could have seen what I saw. He would have loved it.” – Bear Grylls6. “All my life the only thing I’ve been good at has been climbing and throwing myself off big things.” – Bear Grylls Qu7. “As a young boy, scouting gave me a confidence and camaraderie that is hard to find in modern life.” – Bear Grylls
“To me, adventure has always been to me the connections and bounds you create with people when you’re there. And you can have that anywhere.” – Bear Grylls
“You only get one chance at life and you have to grab it boldly.” – Bear Grylls
“I am not fearless. I get scared plenty. But I have also learned how to channel that emotion to sharpen me.” – Bear Grylls
At Manlihood.com our mission is to educate, equip and entertain men in an engaging way. Fridays, we focus a bit on the entertainment, offering #manlymusicfriday – where we feature songs from a variety of genres that reflect the values of true masculinity. Want more ManlyMusic? Check out our playlist on Spotify!
If you look around, it’s hard to believe that our peoples were once savage warriors, hard working farmers, and capable of lifting a finger to do anything other than turn on the TV.
Men, inside, you know you were made for more. You were made to be bold, brave, and fierce. To be a gentlemen doesn’t mean that you are weak. It means your strength is tempered with self-control.
We’ve long said that March comes in and goes out inversely like a Lion or a Lamb. The thought of being one or the other may be a bit frightening for men. Especially in a culture that no longer appreciates the fierce and bold virtues that once marked manhood.
We’ve often been told that men need to be the alpha. And this of course, relates to the idea that we need to be the most aggressive wolf (or lion) in the pack (or pride). They tell us to show now mercy, to build and demonstrate strength. To strive to lead at all costs. I don’t buy into the whole “alpha male” nonsense.
What are we, animals?
No. We are men! And men come in different strokes and sizes.
If the whole pack of wolves was alpha… You know the pack would die right?
There are different roles in the pack.
And we are supposed to be better then the animals…. And they already know that everyone can’t be alpha!
Sometimes, we need to live aggressively. Sometimes we need to lead the pack. But sometimes, we need to follow, to obey, to submit. To show compassion, to show mercy, to show love. Honestly, I think what we need more on this planet is more men that know when to lead, and when to follow. Historically, Jesus gets a lot of flack of saying “the meek will inherit the earth.” For some reason, the english word meek has a connotation of weakness and lowliness. But the word in the greek – πράος (práos) was often use to describe a horse that had been “broken” for saddle riding. That horse is obedient to his master – but you still can’t deny it’s strength, and the passion inside of it. The word implies “strength under control.” I think what we need in this world are men who don’t think of themselves higher than they are. Men who have the strength to crush, but the self-control to know when not to.
Every Monday At Manlihood.com – we celebrate men of courage, valor, creativity, innovation, and honor. We celebrate men who have accomplished great things, that have set good examples, and then have made the world a better place. This is #mancrushmonday
Growing up as an evangelical Christian, we were often quoted scriptures about brave men and women who were killed for refusing to recant their belief in Christ. We were told of prophets who in told the story of God to people who didn’t want to hear it, at the risk of their very lives. And we were told that it still happens today. One of those more recent martyrs has always been a bit of a personal hero. HIs writings and his wife’s writings are full of courage and faith, and they have helped me as I have shaped my own faith.
Phillip James “Jim” Elliot (1927-1956), evangelical missionary martyr, was born in Portland, Oregon, one of four children born to a Plymouth Brethren evangelist and his wife, a chiropractor. A pious and forthright Christian from his grade school days onward, he enrolled at Wheaton College in Illinois in 1945…. In 1953 Jim and Elisabeth married and continued his work in Ecuador. In September 1955 a missionary friend from Missionary Aviation Fellowship spotted a tiny Huaoroni (“Auca”) Indian settlement in the jungle. The Huaoroni, a heretofore “unreached” people known for their reclusiveness and ferocity proved an enticing challenge to Elliot and he and four other missionaries began to establish friendly contact with the tribe. After a three-month campaign, they finally established face-to-face contact in early January, 1956. While the initial meetings were friendly something went wrong in a meeting on January 8th and all five of the missionaries were speared to death. Check out these courageous quotes from the 20th century missionary and martyr. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
― Jim Elliot “Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
― Jim Elliot “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
― Jim Elliot “If we are the sheep of His pasture, remember that sheep are headed for the altar.”
At Manlihood.com our mission is to educate, equip and entertain men in an engaging way. Fridays, we focus a bit on the entertainment, offering #manlymusicfriday – where we feature songs from a variety of genres that reflect the values of true masculinity. Want more ManlyMusic? Check out our playlist on Spotify!
Old war songs are very manly. They often tell the stories of bravery and courage. They might not be your typical listening on a Pandora playlist, but it’s definitely worth listening to some of these old stories. Songs like this are slice of living history.
My name is Andrew Tozier, a child of Lichfield Maine
I left my only family for sea, and salt, and rain
When Lincoln called the banners in 1861
I joined the union army for the land I’m from
We were baptized by fire, at the battle of Bull Run
And we fought our southern brothers, in the wind, the snow, and sun
And when our time was over, we heard our Governor say
Keep fighting for the union, for just another day
So we joined the lion of Bowdoin, Chamberlain his name
and we marched back into battle as the 20th of Maine
If we should die today, dream a dream of heaven
Take your northern heart with you to the grave
Be proud and true you are a union soldier
Stand fast, ye are the boys of Maine
Well, our western flank was missing
As the confederates pushed on
And we fought them tooth and nail
Our ammunition all but gone
Alone I stood with colors
Flying proud and true
For to let my northern brothers know
the battle was not through
Then appeared our lion roaring bayonets
Charging down the mountain with what soldiers we had left
We were steadfast as katahdin, hard as winters rain
Take that rebel yell with you to hell
We are the 20th Maine
If we should die today, dream a dream of heaven
Take your northern heart with you to the grave
Be proud and true you are a union soldier
Stand fast, ye are the boys of Maine
