My aunt sent me this today.
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius.
It’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
Have a nice day, my friend!
The Confessions We Save for People We’ll Never See Again
You know the ones? That one late-night flight confession. The Uber story that made you shed a tear. The haircut overshares.
We tell strangers things we never tell the people we love. It’s not weird. It’s actually pretty human. A few months ago, I told a taxi driver something I’d never said out loud before:
“I’m worried that one day I’ll wake up and realize I’ve spent too much of my life waiting for the ‘right time’ to be happy.”
Just a guy driving a cab, mind you. He nodded and said, “Most people are waiting for something. You just gotta let it find you at the right time.”
And somehow, that helped. Psychologists call this the stranger-on-the-train effect. We open up to strangers because they have no history with us. No expectations. No future leverage. They can’t bring it up next week. They can’t quietly change how they see us.
They only see the moment. And maybe that’s the point. The things you only tell strangers are often the things that most need to be said out loud. So find your stranger. A therapist. A journal. An anonymous community. Somewhere safe enough to tell the truth. Because carrying something alone rarely makes it lighter.
There’s A Word For That…
Raw-dogging [noun] | Origins: The phrase originated in the early-2000s, initially as a vulgar slang denoting unprotected sexual intercourse. Then, it broadened into everyday pop culture and internet slang, largely after a viral 2019 tweet by comedian Jaboukie Young-White about navigating life and reality without drugs or therapy.
Most famously: sitting through a six-hour flight with no phone, no movie, no book, no headphones. Just you. The seat. The window. The existential void.
In The Wild? It’s the modern version of being alone with your thoughts. Which apparently is now so difficult it requires a name. Raw-dogging a flight is impressive in 2024 because most people can’t sit in silence for six minutes, let alone six hours. It’s accidental meditation. Terrifying for some. Clarifying for others.
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Previously Published
FAQs – About The Good Men Project
What is The Good Men Project?
The Good Men Project is a mission-driven media platform founded in 2010 that explores modern masculinity, men’s mental health, relationships, fatherhood, identity, and social change through personal stories, expert insights, and cultural analysis.
What is The Good Men Project’s mission?
Our mission is to expand the conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century — in ways that are inclusive, emotionally honest, and grounded in real human experience.
Why does The Good Men Project focus on masculinity?
Because masculinity shapes how men show up in relationships, families, workplaces, and communities. Examining it thoughtfully helps reduce harm, challenge stereotypes, and create healthier outcomes for everyone.
Is The Good Men Project inclusive?
Yes. GMP is committed to inclusive, progressive perspectives that challenge sexism, racism, homophobia, and narrow gender roles. We believe expanding masculinity benefits people of all genders.
How long has The Good Men Project been around?
The Good Men Project was founded in 2010 and has published continuously for over 15 years, making it one of the longest-running platforms dedicated to modern masculinity and men’s issues.
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