What Happened To Men?

Have you noticed that you can find the coolest sayings in Latin? I was reading a book recently and it mentioned the phrase:

“Inveniam Viam Aut Faciam” it translates to “I will find a way or make one.”

Here are a couple more I love:

· “Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo” – “If I cannot bend the will of Heaven, I shall move Hell.”

· “Aut cum scuto aut in scuto” – “Either with shield or on shield”

· “Non ducor, duco” – “I am not led, I lead”

I don’t know if the people of the time were just more bad*ss than we are today or just had more opportunity to use such artful phrases. Not all are dramatic and maybe some just sound cool when you see them in a “dead” language; the Greeks and several other cultures have had their share of great sayings as well. However, it is not just the ancient cultures who stood out, if you go back not that many generations you will see major difference in the men from yesteryear and the men of today.

With the changes in technology that have made our lives more convenient we have also lost a few things along the way. More and more men are becoming disconnected with the foundations of masculinity and hard work. Don’t get me wrong, I work in a professional office space where I spend a good deal of my time at a computer. I understand there is hard work going on there in its own form. But it is quite different from the labor intensive, physically based jobs that are becoming less common.

The trades have been cast down in the eyes of society for some time now, they are looked upon as less important or worthy for some strange reason. I spent several years in the trades and they are a great way to build a strong career and provide for your family. There are many of the trades that will never go away for society to function so therefore they will always have a place of value.

With the change in the primary job style we have become increasingly less physical. Not only has this affected our health but it has also impacted our mental state as man was designed to be physical. All you have to do is observe our natural biology to understand we are fundamentally built to be physically active. While many have tried to supplement that change with joining the gym or taking up some kind of sport, it falls short because that is subject to your mood (you can quit or not do it). When it is your source of income then you have no choice and have to be active no matter how you feel about it.

I spent years with no option other than going to work, I did not have sick time as an option. I went to work or I made no money, if I made no money we did not eat. With that realization you learn you can work through a great many things that many people seem to believe is life impacting. The first time I had a co-worker call off work because he had diarrhea my mind was blown. I was very new to the idea of paid sick time and could not wrap my head around wasting precious paid sick time on something so trivial.

Life is changing rapidly, when I think about the broad changes to life as I have known it in my modest lifetime it is amazing. We have had great changes that have improved our lives and we have had changes for the worst as well. I am not one of those who is afraid of change, nor do I assume it is all or even mostly bad. Change is always a little uncomfortable but is necessary for life. I do not believe in change for the sake of change as that is senseless; if there is benefit to it then I have no issue.

I do take issue with the change in men, I do not think we are evolving for the better. Maybe you have a better explanation than I do or a different perspective. Take an honest look over your lifetime, whatever that scope is and see what you think. What is your opinion? I would love to know, comment below.