How to Make a Man Cry

Clarification: If want to make a man cry in the fetal position, you have the wrong page. But if you want to make your man tear up, choke up and swell up with emotions he hasn’t felt since he was a proud little boy with an unbroken spirit, read on. This is the story of the best gift my ex received from me.

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All the beautiful things

One year for Michael’s birthday, I found myself really struggling. I didn’t want to impress him with a big gift, I wanted to touch his heart. He was having a rough year and I felt that he needed a reminder of what a phenomenal man he truly is.

I created a document. I wrote all the beautiful, amazing things about Michael that I wanted him to be always reminded of.

I ran out of room and had more to say, so I added a second page.

I got as specific as I could, focusing on his character, ethics, personality, and other unique things that impress me.

I laminated it (as a single, double-sided page), then took him to a swanky restaurant for a super fancy dinner to compensate for his birthday present being a laminated piece of paper.

I’ll never forget handing it to him across the table… watching the transformation from skeptical curiosity to confusion to tearing up and shooing the waiter away because he was choked up and needed a moment to compose himself.

When done reading it, he looked at me in wonder — as if I were the first person to truly, deeply see him.

Maybe I wasn’t the first to see it, but I was certainly the first to say it.

Be the one who says it out loud.

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The one who notices

Michael has carried that laminated writing in his backpack ever since. He frequently confesses that he digs it out and reads it whenever he is having a rough day. It reminds him of how amazing he truly is, even when the world doesn’t see it that day.

Other times, he randomly stumbles upon it in his bag… and it immediately brightens his soul and softens his spirit.

He has said many times that it was the best gift he has ever received. But more importantly, I think it was the most powerful one he has gotten.

He has worked extremely hard to have a strong character, work ethic and to be the best man he can be. Rarely does that get recognized.

No one should go through life feeling unnoticed for all the unique and beautiful things that make them irreplaceable.

A lot of people feel taken for granted, unknown, unappreciated and unrecognized for who they are.

Be the person who notices.

Show the person you love and adore how much they truly matter in this world — especially yours. ❤

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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