That kind of message hits differently. Because it wasn’t just sweet—it was a reminder. A reminder of how important it is to stand tall in who I am as a man. And how much it matters when the woman beside you recognizes and honors that.

We live in a time where the world constantly pushes people to be proud of who they are. “Be you.” “Own your truth.” “Stand tall in your identity.” And I agree with that message. I support it. But somewhere along the way, the idea of being a man—specifically a traditional, masculine man—has been twisted into something shameful. Something some people think you should apologize for.

I don’t. And I won’t.

I’m not here to bash anyone. I’m not here to debate. But I am here to say this clearly: being a man is not something to be ashamed of. Not now. Not ever.

You don’t have to scream it. You don’t have to make it anyone else’s problem. But you should be proud of who you are in your home, in your family, and among those who love and count on you. The people who actually know you.
Somewhere in today’s culture, being a white male has been recast as some sort of threat or advantage to apologize for. I’ve been told I might have “privilege.” That I must have had it easy. But I don’t agree. And I don’t buy into it.

We’re not all given the same life, but we are all given different battles to fight. Women face struggles unique to them. People of different races face their own challenges too. But that doesn’t make a man’s struggles any less real—or any less valid. We’re all human, navigating pain, pressure, expectations, and adversity in our own ways. None of us are exempt. And none of us should be discredited because of what we look like.

I’m not here to compare struggles. I’m just here to say mine exist too. And I’ve faced them. I’ve overcome them. And I’m proud of who I’ve become because of them. I know there are more ahead. I welcome them. Because every time I get through something, I stand stronger, more grounded, and more certain of what I believe.

And what I believe is this: being a man matters.
And it matters even more when you’re surrounded by people who believe in you. People who see you. I have a strong, traditional family. I have a beautiful woman by my side who supports me, encourages me, and sees me for the man I truly am. And with that in place, I don’t see much that can stop me.

Because whether it’s life, business, or society—we’re all really after the same thing: peace and security. Funny thing is, we often have those things, but we’re too busy fearing their loss to realize we’re already standing in the middle of them.
So here’s my take: stop fearing the loss. Start recognizing what’s in front of you. Start being grateful. And start standing firm in who you are.

I am a man. I am masculine. I am proud of both.
I am proud to have built a traditional family in a country that still allows us the freedom to live out our values. I don’t take it for granted. I won’t apologize for it. And I’ll never be ashamed of it.

Say what you want. Believe what you will. But I know who I am.

And I’m proud of it.