Always remember, this is YOUR life. No one will live it for you. Your life is not a business. No one will do the work so that you can get the rewards. No one should make YOUR decisions to send you in the right direction. Live life to make yourself happy. Do what you want to do. Others will try to sway you or change your mind about things, but even tough you should listen at times, make the decision that will make YOU happy. The only thing I ask of you is BE CAREFUL. If you made the right decision every time, you would reap the rewards and can choose to distribute your fortunes to others. But when you make mistakes, sometimes others will pay for it without even being responsible. That being said, at the end of the day, YOU need to be happy. The day you die, you need to be able to look back and be able to recite the lyrics to "My Way".
MY WAY
Songwriters: Revaux, Jacques; Anka, Paul (Eng Lyr); Thibaut, Gilles; Francois, Claude
And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Regrets I've had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Yes there were times I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all
And I stood tall and did it my way
I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it my way
For what is a man what has he got
If not himself then he has not
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
Yes it was my way
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
My Journey:
Three months ago is what I consider my rebirth. The start of a new life. I had a different life, and it ended abruptly. I have a mission that has roots deep into my childhood. As a boy I learned about the very rare person born throughout the ages that can seemingly do it all. A man that can write poetry and forge steel. A man that can play any sport and play many instruments. A man that can fight any adversary and speak many languages.
The Renaissance Man
Even as a boy, I strove to be good at everything I did. I played many sports, and played them well. I learned to read at an extremely young age, and read constantly. Being Mexican, I spoke Spanish decently, if not fluently. I romanced women with pretty words, and school was easy and boring for me. Until the end of high school I was coasting through life and life was good.
Since then I have had many wake-up calls, endured many events that have changed me and met people that have taught me, loved me, bested me, broke my heart, betrayed me, and humbled me. I can be arrogant on occasion. I can be a smartass know-it-all. But I try to put myself in check, while expecting nothing but excellence from myself and people I love in every aspect of life. I am blessed to look 10 years younger than I really am, but my age shows in the growing number of white hairs on my chin.
I aim to become a Renaissance Man. I owe it to myself and to the ones I've lost. I know that everyone on this earth has the ability to become more than they could ever imagine.
"You are extraordinary! You came into this life with more talents and abilities than you can ever use. You could not exhaust your full potential if you lived 100 lifetimes. Your amazing brain has 20 billion cells, each of which is connected to 20,000 other cells. The possible combinations and permutations of ideas, thoughts, and insights that you can generate are equivalent to the number one followed by eight pages of zeros...Whatever you have accomplished in life to this date is only a small fraction of what you are truly capable of achieving. The psychologist Abraham Maslow once wrote 'The story of the human race is the story of men and women selling themselves short'. The average person settles for far less than he or she is truly capable of achieving. Compared to what you could do, everything you have accomplished so far is only a small part of what is truly possible for you."
Brian Tracy, author of Million Dollar Habits
I have a list of the many things I need to know and learn. I will learn everything I want to. I will be able to speak many languages. I will acquire every skill I can think of. I will make my body a finely tuned machine capable of fighting, dancing, building and molding. I will surround myself with ambitious people with honor. I will do all of these things.
I will become a Renaissance Man.
The Renaissance Man
Even as a boy, I strove to be good at everything I did. I played many sports, and played them well. I learned to read at an extremely young age, and read constantly. Being Mexican, I spoke Spanish decently, if not fluently. I romanced women with pretty words, and school was easy and boring for me. Until the end of high school I was coasting through life and life was good.
Since then I have had many wake-up calls, endured many events that have changed me and met people that have taught me, loved me, bested me, broke my heart, betrayed me, and humbled me. I can be arrogant on occasion. I can be a smartass know-it-all. But I try to put myself in check, while expecting nothing but excellence from myself and people I love in every aspect of life. I am blessed to look 10 years younger than I really am, but my age shows in the growing number of white hairs on my chin.
I aim to become a Renaissance Man. I owe it to myself and to the ones I've lost. I know that everyone on this earth has the ability to become more than they could ever imagine.
"You are extraordinary! You came into this life with more talents and abilities than you can ever use. You could not exhaust your full potential if you lived 100 lifetimes. Your amazing brain has 20 billion cells, each of which is connected to 20,000 other cells. The possible combinations and permutations of ideas, thoughts, and insights that you can generate are equivalent to the number one followed by eight pages of zeros...Whatever you have accomplished in life to this date is only a small fraction of what you are truly capable of achieving. The psychologist Abraham Maslow once wrote 'The story of the human race is the story of men and women selling themselves short'. The average person settles for far less than he or she is truly capable of achieving. Compared to what you could do, everything you have accomplished so far is only a small part of what is truly possible for you."
Brian Tracy, author of Million Dollar Habits
I have a list of the many things I need to know and learn. I will learn everything I want to. I will be able to speak many languages. I will acquire every skill I can think of. I will make my body a finely tuned machine capable of fighting, dancing, building and molding. I will surround myself with ambitious people with honor. I will do all of these things.
I will become a Renaissance Man.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Coming soon...A Woman's Perspective
I will be asking women I respect their opinions of what makes a man, the qualities a man should have, and how he should treat a lady. A wise man should listen to a woman and consider their opinions.
Levi's New Ad Campaign
They have more cool ads.
Enjoy life, there's no reverse gear, no rewind button, and no undoing the past.
Monday, August 29, 2011
A Letter for my Son
-The world is a big place, my son. There is more to see than you have time for. The lands are vast and the people are too many. Go into this world and make waves. It may not seem so, but your influence will have far reaching effects on the history of mankind. You may never know how or why, but it will happen. Live your life knowing that people will speak about you throughout the generations. It is up to you to dictate the words they say. Wake up every morning and make real the pleasant dream you just had. As long as you know that there is no difference between your dreams and your reality, life won't get too hard for you.
-You will be a man, so be strong. Ready your body for any situation that may arise, be it battle, a fight, or a long journey. Your body is the vessel that houses your heart and your mind. Make it an impenetrable fortress. A man can be a man without strength, but he will be a lesser man than you.
-Be a lover of women. Love them as if they were the spark that makes your heart beat. Love the pretty ones, the charming ones, and the virtuous ones. Be a connoisseur of women. They are as different as the flowers in this world. Do not surround yourself with cynical, bitter hags. They will darken your skies and poison the rivers. They are alone for a reason. Tell the pretty women they're charming, tell the charming women they're pretty, and tell the virtuous women nothing. They already know what they are, and they already know their worth. Give them all attention, affection, and a smile. Always ask them about their day. Give them every respect and every courtesy, But never give them everything you are. They need to know that there is something they don't know about you. This is not to say that you must deceive them or entrap them. Just have secrets about yourself that only you know. Make them earn the knowledge. Women, just like men, do not appreciate anything they didn't earn or work very hard for. They will tempt you and provoke you. They will anger you and lie to you. They will trick you and change their wants and needs at least once a week. They will appear to do this because women and men don't speak the same language. But if you know this going in, you won't be thrown completely off balance.
-A women that loves you should bring the world to your feet. And if you love her the way she loves you, you will take it, take out the rotten parts, make it more beautiful, and present it right back to her. To love her, she should have a mind of her own, but like yours. A path parallel to yours, not the same one. She will forgive you your faults and make you strive to be a better man. She will encourage your creative mind, and help you focus your wild ideas. But love is made of fire, and fire dies without space to breath. A woman in love doesn't always know it, but she needs time away from you. She can't miss what's always there, and a woman needs to miss a man on occasion. Be very careful who you fall in love with, my son. The right woman will make you feel good while she's there, and the wrong woman will make you feel awful long after she's gone.Pay attention when they speak, women hide things deep in their language. You must speak their tongue and decipher the coded signals to root out the wants, needs, suspicions and resentments lurking deep in their hearts.
- God resides in your heart, not your mind, I believe. Follow your heart. It may, on occasion steer you wrong, but it's certainly more dependable then your mind. A weak mind can be tricked, so steel it with intellect, reason, and understanding. Study history. The histories of people and cultures will teach you things you will never learn on your own, and save you from making mistakes that people have made before you. Study different languages. People need to communicate with one another, and learning languages will make you the mediator and solver of many problems. Sciences are crucial to understanding the world around you. From animal husbandry to mathematics, psychology to physics, zoology to astronomy, science will open new ideas and paths to your dreams. But never forget the arts. Art is life set in the senses. You must experience artists' lives through their music, painting, photography, sculpture, dance and more. Arts can change the world. Long ago, idealists who were educated, cultured and most of all, wise, opened a new way of thinking called the Renaissance. Sciences, Arts, Politics, and even religion were changed forever and for the better. Be intelligent. Be learned. You will have advantages and access to information that the ignorant will never have. You will see the uneducated, even the ones that try to pass themselves off as experts in their field. Do not look down upon them or condescend to their inferior wit. Help them become better people. If intellect, reason and understanding are part of your mind, then passion, will, and wisdom are part of your heart. Hearts are intuitive and without reason, but at least they are true and without malice. God will provide you with choices, and you will make the wrong ones from time to time, but your mind will learn and your heart will mend.
-Finally, if you are blessed, you will have a family. Teach your son to be a man. Teach him the knowledge I passed on to you, and teach him the lessons you've learned. Tell him what it is to be a man. Do not let him become spoiled, arrogant, disrespectful, or cynical. A man is none of these things. He is a symbol to boys. A hero to women, and loves the world and should aim to leave it a better place then when he arrived.
-You will be a man, so be strong. Ready your body for any situation that may arise, be it battle, a fight, or a long journey. Your body is the vessel that houses your heart and your mind. Make it an impenetrable fortress. A man can be a man without strength, but he will be a lesser man than you.
-Be a lover of women. Love them as if they were the spark that makes your heart beat. Love the pretty ones, the charming ones, and the virtuous ones. Be a connoisseur of women. They are as different as the flowers in this world. Do not surround yourself with cynical, bitter hags. They will darken your skies and poison the rivers. They are alone for a reason. Tell the pretty women they're charming, tell the charming women they're pretty, and tell the virtuous women nothing. They already know what they are, and they already know their worth. Give them all attention, affection, and a smile. Always ask them about their day. Give them every respect and every courtesy, But never give them everything you are. They need to know that there is something they don't know about you. This is not to say that you must deceive them or entrap them. Just have secrets about yourself that only you know. Make them earn the knowledge. Women, just like men, do not appreciate anything they didn't earn or work very hard for. They will tempt you and provoke you. They will anger you and lie to you. They will trick you and change their wants and needs at least once a week. They will appear to do this because women and men don't speak the same language. But if you know this going in, you won't be thrown completely off balance.
-A women that loves you should bring the world to your feet. And if you love her the way she loves you, you will take it, take out the rotten parts, make it more beautiful, and present it right back to her. To love her, she should have a mind of her own, but like yours. A path parallel to yours, not the same one. She will forgive you your faults and make you strive to be a better man. She will encourage your creative mind, and help you focus your wild ideas. But love is made of fire, and fire dies without space to breath. A woman in love doesn't always know it, but she needs time away from you. She can't miss what's always there, and a woman needs to miss a man on occasion. Be very careful who you fall in love with, my son. The right woman will make you feel good while she's there, and the wrong woman will make you feel awful long after she's gone.Pay attention when they speak, women hide things deep in their language. You must speak their tongue and decipher the coded signals to root out the wants, needs, suspicions and resentments lurking deep in their hearts.
- God resides in your heart, not your mind, I believe. Follow your heart. It may, on occasion steer you wrong, but it's certainly more dependable then your mind. A weak mind can be tricked, so steel it with intellect, reason, and understanding. Study history. The histories of people and cultures will teach you things you will never learn on your own, and save you from making mistakes that people have made before you. Study different languages. People need to communicate with one another, and learning languages will make you the mediator and solver of many problems. Sciences are crucial to understanding the world around you. From animal husbandry to mathematics, psychology to physics, zoology to astronomy, science will open new ideas and paths to your dreams. But never forget the arts. Art is life set in the senses. You must experience artists' lives through their music, painting, photography, sculpture, dance and more. Arts can change the world. Long ago, idealists who were educated, cultured and most of all, wise, opened a new way of thinking called the Renaissance. Sciences, Arts, Politics, and even religion were changed forever and for the better. Be intelligent. Be learned. You will have advantages and access to information that the ignorant will never have. You will see the uneducated, even the ones that try to pass themselves off as experts in their field. Do not look down upon them or condescend to their inferior wit. Help them become better people. If intellect, reason and understanding are part of your mind, then passion, will, and wisdom are part of your heart. Hearts are intuitive and without reason, but at least they are true and without malice. God will provide you with choices, and you will make the wrong ones from time to time, but your mind will learn and your heart will mend.
-Finally, if you are blessed, you will have a family. Teach your son to be a man. Teach him the knowledge I passed on to you, and teach him the lessons you've learned. Tell him what it is to be a man. Do not let him become spoiled, arrogant, disrespectful, or cynical. A man is none of these things. He is a symbol to boys. A hero to women, and loves the world and should aim to leave it a better place then when he arrived.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Coming Soon...Profiles
Periodically, I will post mini-biographies of men that I consider examples of manliness. There is no perfect man, just as there is no perfect woman, but I hope to present the subject well enough that the events, successes, and failures of his life will show you, the reader, ideas of how to behave with valor, honor, dignity, and decisiveness. Examples of upcoming profiles; Ernest Hemingway, Benjamin Franklin, Vince Lombardi, Malcolm X, Marlon Brando, Bruce Lee, Gen. John D. MacArthur, Che Guevara, Nikola Tesla, Pancho Villa, and many, many more. I will also research a certain someone who is considered by many to be, as of this moment, the man who has achieved more in his lifetime than anyone in human history. The quintessential "Renaissance Man". Some may already know who this is, but I want to know everything there is to know about him. I want to be like him. The truth is, I want to learn as much as possible about these men. I will do the research, and you can reap the rewards along with me. And if you have any info on these men that I overlook, which may happen, I would love your contributions.
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Qualities That Make a Man
In my opinion, a man MUST possess certain qualities. Some are more important than others. But it is absolutely imperative to possess most. They are the following:
1) Respect : An acknowledgment of the quality and/or rareness and/or experience of someone or something.
2) Social Grace : a general term with at least 4 components:
Manners: The unenforced standards of conduct which demonstrate that a person is proper, polite, and refined. They are like laws in that they codify or set a standard for human behavior, but they are unlike laws in that there is no formal system for punishing transgressions, the main informal "punishment" being social disapproval.
Etiquette: A code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group.
Fashion and hygiene: The ability to present oneself in good keep with current social trends according to clothing and grooming and general superficial health.
Behavior: The way one acts in every situation in life according to dignity and social benevolence.
3) Charisma : A compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.
4) Wisdom : A deep understanding and realizing of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to choose or act or inspire to consistently produce the optimum results with a minimum of time, energy or thought. It is the ability to optimally (effectively and efficiently) apply perceptions and knowledge and intelligence to produce the desired results. Wisdom is also the comprehension of what is true or right coupled with optimum judgment as to action.
5) High Self-Esteem : Knowing, accepting, and approving of one's self regardless of outside influences.
6) Strength : The ability to put in motion heavy objects with the body.
7) Endurance : The ability to withstand physical and/or mental stress or exertion for an extended period of time.
8) Will : The ability to concentrate, focus, stay motivated, and strive towards a goal while under stress, distraction, and disruption.
9) Intelligence : The gathered amount of knowledge acquired through study, tutelage, and schooling.
10) Honor : A code of integrity, dignity, and pride.
I'm of the opinion that a man MUST have qualities 1-5 and 8. A man can lack other qualities and be a man, but these are essential.
Welcome! An Intro to A Guide to Manhood
I'm so glad you have visited my blog. If you have, chances are you are interested in the subject of "Manhood", as am I.
Being a man means different things to different cultures. I have my own opinions, as I'm sure others do. But what I aim to do with this blog is to give examples and guidance to those who are unsure of the direction to take in their lives. Those males without a masculine role-model, those males who are growing up without direction and those males who simply are looking to enrich their lives may find this blog enlightening.
Who am I to say what is manly, or what it takes to be a man?
Well plain and simple, with honesty, I am on a journey myself to find out. You can simply follow me and learn the lessons I learn, you can see the things that I see, and grow to understand, with me, the answers to many problems that the world faces today.
"What problems?", you may ask?
As time passes, a boy needs masculine guidance throughout his life. Even until his death, a man is looking for inspiration, motivation, and the desire to fulfill his right or wrong perception of what a man should be. More boys are being born into single-mother families. More fathers are concentrating on making a living or hustling for money and maintaining their "rep" or "respect", rather than teaching their son how to save money, shave, tie a necktie, or play baseball. Consequently, boys are growing up without coping skills, rationale, or honor. I feel, looking at the world today, there is a lack of male role-models that inspire manliness. In fact, boys these days are growing into young men watching Scarface, 50 cent, Jersey Shore, and others telling them what it means to be an "alpha male". These examples are all wrong for different reasons. I will delve into entertainment culture in future postings. The government is regulating the most private sector of all; how to raise a child. Many parents are afraid to discipline their kids because of government retribution. Boys are therefore unfocused and disrespectful. This is a controversial subject of future postings. Children are suing their parents, parents are not being present, responsible, or accountable, and the whole system is not only degrading, it is abruptly shutting down in every established, recognized country. These problems are not overabundant in tribal societies. Why? They have maintained their standards and customs, not being influenced my mass marketing or cultural and political agendas. Being a man is a matter of opinion, yes, but where are the defined, universal bullet-points that speak to trans-cultural, trans-generational manliness? Where are the "10 commandments" of being a man?
Growing up I had a father that did his best to keep the family fed, sheltered and safe. He did a damn good job. He provided tough love, but we knew we were loved. He had seven children and was the disciplinarian. It was another time, yes, when dual parents and single income households were not uncommon. I learned the many things I think are expected of a true man. I learned things from my friends, yes. I also learned about dishonor, disrespect, and irresponsibility. But the moral values taught to me by my parents, the love of reading, and my many childish and/or misguided mistakes guided me to develop certain qualities that I think boys are growing up without today.
I have my own opinions of what qualities a man should have. Perhaps you agree. Some of you wont. The point of this blog is to learn, discuss, and grow towards improvement. We ALL need to be better men. I encourage your CONSTRUCTIVE arguments. We aim to improve the men of the world, for the betterment of mankind.
Being a man means different things to different cultures. I have my own opinions, as I'm sure others do. But what I aim to do with this blog is to give examples and guidance to those who are unsure of the direction to take in their lives. Those males without a masculine role-model, those males who are growing up without direction and those males who simply are looking to enrich their lives may find this blog enlightening.
Who am I to say what is manly, or what it takes to be a man?
Well plain and simple, with honesty, I am on a journey myself to find out. You can simply follow me and learn the lessons I learn, you can see the things that I see, and grow to understand, with me, the answers to many problems that the world faces today.
"What problems?", you may ask?
As time passes, a boy needs masculine guidance throughout his life. Even until his death, a man is looking for inspiration, motivation, and the desire to fulfill his right or wrong perception of what a man should be. More boys are being born into single-mother families. More fathers are concentrating on making a living or hustling for money and maintaining their "rep" or "respect", rather than teaching their son how to save money, shave, tie a necktie, or play baseball. Consequently, boys are growing up without coping skills, rationale, or honor. I feel, looking at the world today, there is a lack of male role-models that inspire manliness. In fact, boys these days are growing into young men watching Scarface, 50 cent, Jersey Shore, and others telling them what it means to be an "alpha male". These examples are all wrong for different reasons. I will delve into entertainment culture in future postings. The government is regulating the most private sector of all; how to raise a child. Many parents are afraid to discipline their kids because of government retribution. Boys are therefore unfocused and disrespectful. This is a controversial subject of future postings. Children are suing their parents, parents are not being present, responsible, or accountable, and the whole system is not only degrading, it is abruptly shutting down in every established, recognized country. These problems are not overabundant in tribal societies. Why? They have maintained their standards and customs, not being influenced my mass marketing or cultural and political agendas. Being a man is a matter of opinion, yes, but where are the defined, universal bullet-points that speak to trans-cultural, trans-generational manliness? Where are the "10 commandments" of being a man?
Growing up I had a father that did his best to keep the family fed, sheltered and safe. He did a damn good job. He provided tough love, but we knew we were loved. He had seven children and was the disciplinarian. It was another time, yes, when dual parents and single income households were not uncommon. I learned the many things I think are expected of a true man. I learned things from my friends, yes. I also learned about dishonor, disrespect, and irresponsibility. But the moral values taught to me by my parents, the love of reading, and my many childish and/or misguided mistakes guided me to develop certain qualities that I think boys are growing up without today.
I have my own opinions of what qualities a man should have. Perhaps you agree. Some of you wont. The point of this blog is to learn, discuss, and grow towards improvement. We ALL need to be better men. I encourage your CONSTRUCTIVE arguments. We aim to improve the men of the world, for the betterment of mankind.
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