A man’s personal space is a reflection of himself, how he views the world, and how he sees himself in it.
—
Man space is a place that gives comfort and sanity in a world of insanity. A world that rarely works the way we want it. Man space is one place we feel like we have control, it brings order back into a world of chaos. In a man cave, you are Batman and the outside world is the Joker you need to defeat. How you succeed in your task of conquering the world will be determined by the plans you creates in your man space.
When I think about man space, otherwise known as man caves, I can go back to my bedroom at my parent’s house growing up. At that time, my personal space was filled with comic books and videotaped copies of The X-files. Later, when I moved out I had my own apartment which turned into an expansion of that former bedroom. Comic book posters covered the walls and actions figures of those heroes sat on the shelves. Then, I got married.
What somebody feeds into their minds or spends their valuable time watching says a lot about who they are.
|
The action figures were placed in a box. Posters were replaced by framed pictures featuring landscapes. The collected mix of dinner wear was replaced by complete matching sets. Personal space had turned into presentable quarters for having company.
When I go to a friend’s house or I’m meeting somebody for the first time, I look for the personal clues about who they are. The book shelf or DVD collection is a good indicator into who somebody is. What somebody feeds into their minds or spends their valuable time watching says a lot about who they are.
A man’s personal space is not only for him to feel comfortable in, but to see who else has that same feeling when they are in his world.
|
Man space is like that but to a further extreme. A man’s personal space is a reflection of who he is. It is not meant to be inviting for other people. In truth man space will dictate if somebody is worth keeping as a friend. Consider the movie I Love You Man; a bond is created between two men when they discover a shared appreciation for Rush. A man’s personal space is not only for him to feel comfortable in, but to see who else has that same feeling when they are in his world.
Years later, I would become a single man again, and the house I lived in would slowly turn into my personal space again. This time the posters were replaced by paintings and action figures were replaced by typewriters. These are still representations of who I am but in a way that is more presentable for those that come to visit. One of the differences I have seen between man space and female decoration is that the men I know will ask “what do I enjoy?” as opposed to “what will others enjoy?” The two questions complement one another in a strange way. The woman I know use décor as an attempt to invite others in while trying to gain their acceptance and approval. With their décor, the men I know will ask if they will be accepted and if the relationship is worth pursuing?
A man’s personal space tells a story about himself. The trophies on his mantle tell tales of achievement and former success. The men he looks up to on his walls speak to the morals and ethics he believes in. After a rough day at the bill paying day job walking into a personal space can help a man reflect on where he has been and where he is going. Considering the purpose of man space and what it represents, when it comes under attack a man needs to ask himself some very important questions.
Man space is one place we feel like we have control and brings order back into a world of chaos.
|
After regaining my own personal space, I found myself being productive again. Dreams returned and I started working towards some of them whether I realized it or not. My creative process returned and I was no longer happy with the 9-5 job. A sense of self returned and I started to reflect on the dreams I had as a younger man. For a creative individual, personal space is valuable and to be protected. Personal man space works the same way. If a man is to be successful in life, he needs to have his own space. This can be an office or man cave, but having your own space is a must if you are going to be successful in anything that requires thought and intellect. A man’s personal space is a great buffer to keep negative influences out of his life if he uses it as such.
—
Photo: Getty Images
Well said. If we do not, as men, have our space, a place in which we can let all go but our own feelings and thoughts, they we lose our sense of balance, forget ourselves, fall fully into the matrix of the walking dead. This is just one more way in which we are different then women. They are communal. My wife can sit with a friend for hours, never take a breath. Her husband and I can sit for those hours in my den, and watch some random guy movie, say nothing and feel we had a good time… Read more »