Appreciating the Super-men in our lives
In honor of Father’s Day I would like to apply extra appreciation for the super-men in our lives! I love this image of ‘super man’ that we grew up with. What if all the men in our lives are truly super-men, holding it in disguise under their clothes, being quiet and unassuming, and just doing what they do – providing, protecting, loving and caring for us and our families? Perhaps they don’t even realize inside themselves that they are super-men!
Here is a sweet poem “Dad” by Karen Boyer and a photo of me with my Dad & brother. (From just a few years ago…) 😉
He doesn’t look for praises
He’s not one to boast
He just goes on quietly working
For those he loves the most
His dreams are seldom spoken
His wants are often few
And most of the time his worries
Will go unspoken too
He’s there… A firm foundation
Through all our storms of life
A sturdy hand to hold to
In times of stress and strife
A true friend we can turn to
When times are good or bad
One of our greatest blessings,
The man that we call Dad.
Years ago I took a series of workshops by Alison Armstrong – a very gifted teacher, author and expert on men. Alison has made it her life’s work to help educate women on men and help heal the misunderstandings between men and women. These classes rocked my world (in a good way!!) and helped me improve my relationships with all the men in my life – my Dad, brother, friends, and definitely in dating too!
Alison helped me realize how wonderful it is that men and women are divinely created different. Sometimes as women we complain that our partners are not more sensitive but do we really want men to be as sensitive as us? And we want to be treated equally – but do we want to put pressure on ourselves to be different from our nature or can we embrace our femininity and how we’re different? There are always growth opportunities, that’s part of life… but I’m so glad I’m not partnered with someone just like me! (And I know he’s not interested in partnering with someone just like him! LOL) I LOVE Steve’s masculinity, how strong and thoughtful he is in his nature, and how many little yet big things he does to help me, his daughter or others – just because it’s who he is and how he rolls… 🙂 And my Dad isn’t like me in many ways, but I’m super grateful for his incredible loving, caring and generosity, him being his unique amazing self, and how much he’s provided loved and supported me and our family!
Alison teaches – “what if men are just reacting to us and how we interact with them?” My favorite story of hers is called “frog farmer” about a woman who was dating and realized listening to Alison that she was turning princes into frogs (bringing out the worst in men) instead of frogs into princes (bringing out the best in men). Men are often quieter about their feelings and needs, but love to be respected and appreciated as they are, and also love when we allow and fully receive the help and loving they want to offer to us. The more we see the amazingness in them (and ourselves), the more it will show and grow. (Like watering and caring for a beautiful garden.)
So thank you so much amazing super-men in my life!! Thank you Steve for being the unique amazing super-man, father and partner that you are! Thank you Dad for being your amazing innovative loving generous version of super-man! Thanks to my brother Mike for his strength and unique expression as a super-man and father also. Thanks to my spiritual teachers and mentors who are all super-men! As I’ve shifted my perspective and the way I interact with the men in my life, I am super grateful to truly see the super-men they are and receive even more of more their amazing loving, caring and support.
If you would like to check out more of Alison’s teachings here are my favorite books or audiobooks which I recommend starting with (available in Amazon, Audible or iTunes):
For Dating: “In Sync with the Opposite Sex: Understand the Conflicts, End the Confusion, Make the Right Choices“.
Understanding men: “The Amazing Development of Men: Every Man’s Journey from Knight to Prince to King”. It’s was intended primarily for women, but a male friend of mine was deeply touched by listening to it – said it was the most “gotten” he’d ever felt.
For more fulfilling Marriage/Partnerships: “Keys to the Kingdom“.
Thank you men for being who you are and for loving us as women. Big YAY for men and fathers! 🙂 And I am also a huge proponent for us as women loving ourselves as we are, seeing our amazingness too, and opening to receiving all the loving from the men and others in our lives.
Please comment below what you appreciate about the super-man or men in your life and any other reflections.
Written by Wendy Kunkel – pictured below with my super-man & partner Steve. ❤