Don't Be That Guy

I just got back from coffee with a friend. She is the third young woman during the past week to say something that translates to "guys are jerks". None of them actually put it that way. None of them were being judgmental. They're simply fed up with guys treating them as something other than equals- whether as lesser people, objects, servants, fools, toys, diversions, or whatever.

I know that had I pressed them they would have agreed it's #notallmen . After all, they were entrusting their feelings to a guy. But the fact remains that a lot of the guys they interact with (in at least one case, a huge majority) treat them poorly. A common theme is that they don't feel it's safe to accept anything- even a frappuccino- from most men because they have learned there's a good chance that those men will expect sex.

Seriously? Guys, if you think she's just a cheap whore, what does that say about your sense of self-worth? While I'd like to believe that most of the guys I know would never do this, I know better. That's really sad- as much for the guys as for the women.

You're all worth so much more than that. Learn to love and respect yourself. And trust me; if you treat women (or men) this way, you don't really respect and/or love yourself, even if it's so deep inside you've buried or lost sight of it.

If you knew who you really were, if you could see the beauty in whose image you (and all those people around you) were made, you'd be so much happier. You'd make other people so much happier. God's crazy in love with you! Soak in that a while; life becomes a lot more fun.

You're awesome and loved. So is she (or he). Let's treat ourselves and each other better.