This One's For the Guys

Typically, my posts focus more on the women of the world. Celebrating them, encouraging them, inspiring them.

But not this time.

This one's for the guys.

When it comes to boosting self-esteem and promoting a healthy body image, the male side of the population is generally overlooked. It is usually the women who are told that they are beautiful in all shapes in sizes, that they should celebrate their differences instead of resent them, that they are wonderful human beings who have a unique and irreplaceable value in this world.

These truths apply to men as well.

"Man up." "Grow a pair." "Be a man about it."

These phrases, so often thrown around, hold a truth that we rarely, if ever, acknowledge:

Men are held to unfair standards, just like women are.

Why must every male hero be tall, dark, and handsome? Why do TV shows constantly frame "the nice guy" as a friend-only role or a comedic relief? Why do we insist that guys "have to give up their man card" if they can't bench a certain weight or if they like a pedicure now and again?

Guys, listen up:

There is no ideal standard of physical appearance or set of activities that you must meet. You are incredible as you are.

I have met some incredible guys in my lifetime, and I wanted to share a bit about why they are amazing.

This is Chris. He loves Disney as much as I do, is super skilled at Ultimate Frisbee, and genuinely cares about other people, enough to go out of his way to help them be happy. He gives great compliments and seeing him light up when he's excited about something is the best thing ever.

These are my FHE brothers from last semester at BYU (some aren't pictured, unfortunately. Guys need to be more like girls and take squad pics...). These are some of the funniest, most welcoming, unapologetically themselves guys I've ever met. Some of them have been a shoulder to cry on, others a source for a good belly laugh, and yet others a steady presence of strength and comfort. These guys are the best.

This is Jon. He is an incredible dancer and has such a warm heart. He could give you stats on different Pokemon and sing along to musicals. He brings smiles wherever he goes, including China, where he is currently participating in a study abroad program. As I discovered in my ballet class last semester, he can turn your day around in no time at all.

This is my cousin McKay. He is so great with kids of all ages and has a firm and burning spiritual strength. He loves rock bands and has been to more concerts than I probably will ever go to in my life, including multiple where he's met band members. He cares deeply about family, is a wealth of Disney knowledge, and is pretty much guaranteed to make you smile.

This is my Daddy. He is the most benevolent man I've ever met, and one of the biggest goofballs in the history of the world. He's the kind of guy that will always stop on the side of the road to see if someone pulled over needs help. He loves my mom more than anything, and he is a man of God. He has taught me everything, from using a separate sheet of paper for math problems to learning to forgive others.

These, and so many more amazing men in my life, are proof that the world is full of kind, smart, funny, incredible guys of all different shapes, sizes, and walks of life.

So guys, thanks for being amazing.

Keep being you.