A woman expresses her thanks, and it feels really nice.
___
Thank you to the men who hold the door open.
To the men who Ma’am or Miss or Missus you.
To the men who ask how your day was or how it’s going.
To the men whose smile can put you at ease, no words exchanged.
To the men who are good fathers.
To the men who love their wives, partners and the mothers of their children.
To the men who are good examples to their sons.
To the men who are sweet to their daughters.
To the men who whistle as you pass on the street.
To the men who help old ladies cross the street.
To the men who love dogs.
To the men who can cook some delicious dinner.
To the men who vacuum (this is an art—hell it’s a freakin chore, and a lot of people, men and women alike, don’t or won’t do it).
To the men who cry.
To the men who show strength when everyone around them is falling apart in the face of adversity.
To the men who are soldiers.
To the men who are caregivers and lovers.
To the men who go out every morning to earn that dollar or think of new ways to innovate.
To the men who educate.
To the men who make you feel like a lady.
To the men who understand the simplicity yet seductiveness of a well-placed kiss.
To the men who want to hold your hand.
To the men who command respect, not only for themselves but for those they care about.
To the men who are good to their mothers.
To the men who smell good.
To the men who are strong, smart, intelligent, vulnerable, happy, resilient and kind.
Thank you
The world is a much better place because of you and all you do.
Photo by Mooganic.
Nice list, Erica!
All of them can be wrapped in feminine energy and I wish to thank THOSE women.
And to both men and women:
Thank you for doing all those things because it is simply who you are. You don’t live for the “thank-you” but for the opportunity to use your power of giving.
To the men who are good examples to their sons.
To the men who are sweet to their daughters.
Interesting combination.
It still seems like a list of expectations to me. It reinforces the notion that to be loved a man has to be strong and there is little room for weakness. Men aren’t stronger than women we are no more insensitive or invulnerable than them, but in order to be valued we have to pretend we are suppress our emotions and be heroes. It’s not easy.
“It still seems like a list of expectations to me.” I think that’s YOUR interpretation. The author never asked anything, never posed any condition. She was just thankful about those things. Hence, seeing expectations is likely just YOUR projection. Maybe you were taught that, to be loved/appreciated, you have to “buy” that with your own effort, or sacrificing yourself; and you’re afraid that is true with everybody. IMO, the author is simply thankful for those things. When they do not happen, it’s stlll ok. When they happen, there’s joy and contentment and, of course, appreciation. Probably she has developed the… Read more »
You’re welcome Scott. 🙂 Have a great day.
Scott… maybe try to see this with a more positive perspective? Please see it as simply a sincere gesture? Enjoy it! 🙂 Not every woman wants her man on a marionette string trying to change him to suit her idea of how a ‘good man’ is supposed to act. Being a good man goes beyond this simple list, far beyond. We know all you do, every day, for us, in so many small and big ways. It is all appreciated, and you’re loved for it. If you aren’t, you’re not in the right relationship. Many of you guys do the… Read more »
Hi Anne,
Thank you for your heartfelt response. Your explanation helped me re-read this in the article in the manner that I’m sure it was meant.
Thank you Anne.
I do not want to hoist myself.
But,
I do wish to one day meet a woman like you.
Scott – I meant that in the way that some men appreciate beauty. It was not at all meant to be taken in a derogatory way or negative light.
Thanks, Adam!
I’m confused by the thank you “To the men who whistle as you pass on the street.”. Maybe I don’t understand what you mean by that. This sounds like a cat call type behaviour to me.
And while I’m really trying to stay positive about this posting, because it is so rare for men to be thanked by women, it’s hard for me not to see it as a list of expectations. Please help me understand a bit more so I can see this in a more positive light.
Thank you for your thank you Erica,
and thank you for not being one of those women who is out to demonise us with the icky projections of their disowned humanity. We love you too.
There are a lot of us, who love men. It just doesn’t seem like it sometimes since we don’t get as much attention…