DEAR MEN, IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY!

Dear men,

We know you guys are tired of being strong, of the pressure and expectations, of holding the tears inside, of being looked down upon. We know that no matter how strong you are, you get tired too.

It's okay to cry when you're not able to hold up all the storms inside. It's okay to ask for emotional support from your partner without any hesitation. It's absolutely okay if you can't give financial support to a person because yes, sometimes life can be tough. It's okay to be weak somedays when you don't feel like hiding yourself anymore. It's okay to get hurt and convey because you are not made of stone. It's okay if you can't always stay tough in difficult situations. 

Because you are a man does not mean you dominate, you can walk along too. It does not mean you don't have emotions, you can cry too. Doesn't mean you have to multitask for your family and friends, you can sit back and relax. Being feminine does not make you gay. 

We have seen you giving up your chocolate for your younger sister. You're probably just 10, you want to have it but you know that she likes it more. We have seen you giving up on your dreams just to see a smile on your parents' faces. You wanted to be something, but you knew what your parents expected of you. Giving up your hobbies and spending on yourself, just to save enough money for your girlfriend. You wanted those shoes for yourself, but her love and happiness meant more to you. Giving up your youth and the things that make you happy, just to earn enough for your wife and kids to lead a good life. You wanted their needs to be fulfilled before yours. Trying to live by the standard the society has set for you. If you go out, you are careless. If you stay home, you are lazy. If you scold your children, you're a monster. And if you don't, you're irresponsible. If you stop your wife from working, you're insecure. If you don't, you're living on her money. If you listen to your mom, you're a mama's boy. If you listen to your wife, you're her slave.

But you know, we see you struggling every day and because of these societal norms, you don't talk to anybody about them, and because you don't want them to worry about you. But we see you, going through, every single day, and not complain about it once. We see you, for being a man for everyone around you, but yourself.

We're sorry for calling you too weak for crying, for calling you too feminine for wearing pink, for calling you pansy when you couldn't drive and lift weights, for judging your manliness on the basis of your beard, height, jawline, abs, and biceps. We are sorry for being such pricks. We're sorry for suffocating you. We hope you forgive us, we really do.

Ladies,

Treat him right! Respect him! Hear him out, it's not always his fault. Thank him for at least making an effort. If he makes a mistake, forgive him. 

"You as a woman have the power that God only put in you to lift up, build up, and refuel the man in your life."

XOXO,

Sanch.