I, man

  “Stop wasting time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” – Marcus Aurelius Principles, values, starting points, convictions and if we go to extremes, even vows, or panjaads if that sits better with someone. Personally, I like the word standard . So what is a standard, and why do we need it? When a man decides to take responsibility for his life, be honest with himself, and try to improve his situation- morally, materially, or both- he has to operate from certain convictions. Over time, these should form a set of self-imposed rules he follows to reach his goals. It’s a framework, a backbone, that keeps him on the right path regardless of mood or circumstances. For example, one commonly accepted principle is that a man never puts his self-respect on the line. Not even when it would bring him direct benefit. He doesn’t form relationships with people who don’t respect him- even if those people pay well for his work or services. I get that this sounds unrealistic or il...

  “Being a fuckup doesn’t define you. Your reaction to it does.” – Arvet Lindström I’ve caught myself wondering: who exactly is a “fuckup,” and what hides behind that label? “ You’re such a fuckup!” - that line hits straight in the chest. Some people collapse inside, shut down or freeze. Others barely flinch. But some people bearly react and even take it as a fuel - like, hell yeah, I’m human. Let’s break it down. Calling someone a fuckup is usually just emotional exaggeration tied to a specific moment. Take two guys on a construction site: For one, the work is a nightmare. For the other, it’s second nature. And the skilled one might instantly slap a label on the other — fuckup.  But maybe the “weaker builder” heard that label his whole childhood. Maybe his parents drilled that message into him. Maybe he never got the chance to build confidence. And so he will avoid building in the future - not because he’s incapable, but because he’s carrying someone else’s emotional bagga...