"If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, absent thee from felicity a while and draw thy breath in pain to tell my story." -Shakespeare

As Hamlet lay dying, he spoke the above words to his friend Horatio. Implied in his request was the trust that Hamlet had in his companion. So who would you trust to tell YOUR story? Societal pressures and obligations usually end up dictating  the story that will be told about us.  Truth is, many of those stories are what keep adult men disconnected from each other.  Yet, in our quiet moments, we can often be found reminiscing about that "partner-in-crime" from our childhood - and we are usually smiling! As an adult do you make the time for buddies?

Male friendship is not a high priority in our culture. If you take a moment to look at the self-help movement or the popular talk shows, a vast majority of them are geared toward women - even the shows hosted by men.  It's almost as if we have abandoned our brothers and ultimately ourselves. When we finally do come together as men it is usually in competition rather than brotherhood.  Whether the prize is the perfect mate, the great job or a win on the ball field, we focus more on the victory than on the shared experiences that we have as men.  It is in the sharing of these experiences that we begin to break down the myths and expectations that we have let define us.

It's not easy getting men to open up.  There are inherent obstacles that must be overcome but the rewards can be immeasurable. If you're interested in deepening your male relationships (including the one you have with yourself) please contact me for a consultation.

Eric's homepage

Photos by John Bottone