Wow I love this post - male bonding with wiser mature men is what every young man needs, very interred to connect with anyoneTheres so much wisdom in this! From time immemorial wisdom and life skills were passed from the old to the young, generation after generation. This is how people learned essential survival skills and also how the great cultures of the world developed; how science and art and civilisation grew.Now we live in a culture where twenty second sound bites and vacuous vanities seem to dominate the media, where aging is feared, and wisdom underrated, and where masculinity is constantly under attack. Its no coincidence that that same culture is also seeing young males in crisis. Theyre being fed a false narrative that masculinity is toxic or dangerous and that being male is inferior. And also that sexuality is a problem rather than a gift. Well I dont believe that! I think the male is beautiful and wonderful.Having had some bad experiences as a boy I was saved by the unconditional love and wisdom of my dad but also by kindness, wisdom and mentoring from another older man who lived near me. Its so wrong that people would often jump to wrong conclusions about a man and a boy being friends without even knowing the people involved, especially when the man in question was single and what was euphemistically called a bachelor type back then.He was kind, patient, wise and educated, and I learned so much from him, but, even more preciously, his respect, care and friendship taught me that I had value as a human being. Ironically he got that same gift from me.I had a wonderful father, and he was wise and generous enough to see that my friendship with the older man was good for me. I remember seeing them chat and hearing dad express his appreciation.Many years later, and a dad to sons myself, I look back with gratitude and appreciation when I remember those times and the many nuggets of wisdom he taught me. I hear his voice sharing many a great quotation or guiding me to let the pan get good and hot first or the egg will stick to it.I celebrate the man he was and also the man my dad was; two wise and deeply good men, one of whom knew how to fry an egg.

Very well said!

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