Man/man intimacy and man/woman intimacy seem to serve different purposes, not only practically (babies must be made, certainly), but emotionally, and I’m finding the following:
I usually expect to be very satisfied with my experiences with women. I usually look forward to spending time with them and expect to feel good afterward, but my expectations are not always met. I often find that while the time was well spent, it didn’t do what I thought it would.
I usually don’t expect to enjoy or treasure time or communication with men, but I often find that I am more touched, more impressed, more encouraged than I expected. I don’t expect to like it, but I end up feeling fulfilled in ways I didn’t even know were possible.
I know this extends to other things, because Dr. David Burns educates us about this discrepency between expectation and reality in his breakthrough book, “Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy.” I often find myself asking myself: What amazing, life-changing activities have I not discovered? I know that there are simple habits that would drastically improve my quality of life, and I know that they are not even far from me — they only be a few keyboard taps or a friend’s referral away — and what are they? Better yet, in what inconceivably beneficial way is my life going to change when I stumble upon the next discovery? But better yet, how can I discipline myself to capitalize on all the lessons I have already learned?
Well, I know this: Guy time deserves a special priority, and that includes the research and development work that goes into creating a top-knotch circle of men that will be my comrades and companions for life!