The boy who was afraid to use emojis

There were emojis before there were emojis.

We just did them, you know, without having to have a fancy millennial word attached.

 

Take the smiley face, for example.

Just a simple round line and two dots.

 

When I was in middle school, I would watch girls write notes to each other; almost inevitably, they would end them with a smiley.

I remember the desire to use the smiley as a way to express myself, too.

But I couldn’t.

It was too feminine. I’d be exposed. Seen as weak. So, I put on some armor to make sure no one saw my feminine side; my sensitive side; the side of me that just wanted to give joy to the whole world.

I stuffed it.

Just like Robert Bly talks about in The Long Bag We Drag Behind Us.

I love that we’re now living in a world where, more and more, we don’t have to stuff it.

Women can talk about their vaginas on their fb walls, and men can use–gasp–heart emojis on theirs.

To be honest, that was the last little hurdle between me and expressing my whole self: heart emojis!!!!

I was a little hesitant to use it, but now, it seems to be about all I use! I love being a man who isn’t afraid to express my emotions.

But we’re not there yet!

Just as we need feminism to make sure women get the respect they deserve, we need a movement to support men in being able to express their full selves, as well.

The good, the bad and the ugly.

And the sensitive.

🙂

 

www.alexobed.com

subscribe here