Seeing this photo of me with a jeep set me thinking. I am in a rugged setting, mud and forest, I have a Jeep with me, I am unshaven, I look at home. I know that I feel at home in this kind of setting. I feel in my element and feel I can do anything.
Does this make me a “Guy”? Does this give me masculinity? Does this make me attractive? Is this what a woman is looking for?
The answer, as always, is yes and no. It depends on what is going on inside, it depends on who I am.
The important thing for men to understand is that women see right into us, they see our truth, they see what we are hiding. Being rugged means nothing if we are unsure of ourselves. It won’t create what we need. It won’t cover up the cracks. The movie ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is a great example of this. What they appeared to be was not what they were. The outdoors didn’t change them, it only brought out who they really were.
So for me, I am happy to be rugged, when appropriate. I am happy to enjoy a rugged, outdoors, lifestyle because I am happy with who I am. I am confident in myself and I know how I portray myself to people. I have worked on the inside, I have made the shift into my masculinity and am settled there.
This doesn’t mean I have to be rugged. I am equally happy dressing up in my Dinner Jacket and going out to a smart restaurant. I am happy as a man and therefore can take on myself any number of outward guises and still be myself.
But I do enjoy bashing about in the jeep!
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If you read the article you would see that it's not, in fact, about being rugged, it's about being authentic. I thank for your comment and I wonder why you feel the need to resort to mockery? Is it that you are uncomfortable in yourself? Is it that you find that being authentic is difficult?
As I say at the end, “I am happy as a man and therefore can take on myself any number of outward guises and still be myself.” Are you happy as a man, Dave?
I think, if you were “rugged,” you wouldn't have to ask if you're “rugged.” I don't know you and you may very well be “rugged.” But you do seem to be sporting nice sandals and (I pray to God) shorts in the photo. So, yeah, that's plenty “rugged,” being out there with all those icky animals and things with your bare legs and your cute little sandals. You're a big rugged man. Yes you arreeeee. A big old hairy, bear-y man. Don't you post on craigslist? M4M? “Bear Looking to Rassle”? is that you? Holy crap! It IS! OMG!