The Progression of Manhood
...and how it relates to August 29th in Cascade (a 2 minute read)
Dear Friend and Community Member,
I have come to believe something about men that I will share with you in hopes that it might help you or your loved ones, and our community. I will be speaking in generalized terms, so if generalizations offend you, know that this will make your head explode. This is about the drivers of men, so if you think men and women are the same, you will disagree. If you understand the necessity of generalizations, and accept that men and women are different on the inside and outside, then you might appreciate what I am about to present.
Being a man with a level of self-awareness, I have come to believe that the natural progression of a man is as follows. This is how it is supposed to be according to natural law.
Born: infancy and childhood - nothing to offer and completely reliant upon others.
Adolescence: weaning oneself off of others’ support (learn to contribute to oneself) during a period of rapid self-discovery.
Young adulthood: becoming self-sufficient and growing one’s ability to serve and support (contribute to) others in their immediate vicinity (such as a family).
Mature Adulthood: Expand his ability to serve and support (contribute to) others and extend that innate need to contribute to their communities.
Late Adulthood: Continue their contributions by sharing their life lessons with younger generations to grow humanity’s ability to find or create meaning.
I did not pull any of these stages from anyone else’s mind, and it is based upon my own observations and beliefs that I have formulated as I have worked my way through life. If anything, I could credit Andy Frisella with clarifying the connection that I present next.
Society has stopped emphasizing masculine development beyond becoming self-sufficient. Phases four and five (and arguably even three) have gone by the wayside and get no attention or acknowledgment. Therefore, men never realize that this is what they need to do in order to live a fulfilling life, much less prepare to do so effectively and intentionally.
This is the root of the “mid-life crisis.” We know that there is supposed to be more, but we don’t know what it is.
Why am I sharing this with you? Because the November election is on my mind (you thought I was going to say something about men’s mental health, didn’t you!). Cascade no longer has a single elected trustee on the board. Men, there is an opportunity to fulfill the natural drive to contribute to the community, but the window closes August 29th. The role of trustee is not for everyone, but I know that this will reach someone who is built for it. Even if you are afraid to lead and govern by principles, this could be your opportunity to fulfill the greater good you are meant to fulfill. Your sons will watch your example and see your growth, taking your example with them and, by doing so, they might avoid the trap of empty adulthood.
I am not presenting this opportunity to disparage our current trustees (heck, I’m one of them!). But I know I would feel a lot better knowing that our community chose some of our board rather than having just “ended up” with them through lack of interest. We might already have the best trustees that Cascade has to offer, but only an election will prove it.
If this message tugs at your heart, I’d encourage you to declare your candidacy for zone 2 or 3 (this must be done by August 29th). Print the paper, get the five signatures, and take it to the courthouse. If you are in zone 5, submit your letter of interest here for appointment at the September board meeting.
I pray that you, the men of our community, will step up and serve the way you were built to—not just for our community’s sake but for your own. Teach your kids about this progression, too, so that they can contribute at the level commiserate to the stage of life that they find themselves in.
With high hopes for our community and our youth.
Brad Howlett