Very well said, my friend. I often times feel like a "bridge" of sorts in the modern age. Was taught to be emotionally invulnerable, not exactly by my dad but he was a strong example. To say nothing of my more "traditional values". It was more the childhood bullying and social rejection by my peers that left me with a host of problems and strongly valuing loyalty. But then, I know being emotionally invulnerable is a problem now because I can't properly process/regulate/explain my emotions.
I said to my ex-wife earlier this year, I think the reason the whole Pride movement resonates with me is I have been learning that you can have intrinsic pride/acceptance in who you are, you're not perfect, and that's OK because no one is. But you can try, and you will fail because that is life.
I read somewhere that a lot of men's problems stem from lack of purpose or self-worth. We need to do better there. I think lots of shit that we were sold on as kids of what life should look like has shifted completely away, i.e. men being breadwinners, owning a home by 30, saving for retirement, retirement, etc. I think men my age see how unattainable all that is, and are in crisis which is why we latch on to anything that slightly resembles some sort of identity with politics, sport, and even celebrity culture. The tribalism is from a replacement of a sense of belonging in a society that we were not informed about.
