GUTS

Her question was: "What has been your greatest achievement?... the one that is a true reflection of your manhood"

I love her questions... they're usually smart, deep, thought provoking and tough. But there was something about the way she structured this one that made me hate it...

For starters, I do not think that any of my "achievements" really have to do with my manhood or lack thereof... I have had my share of achievements in my life... some I have worked hard to earn them... some have just been the fruit of being at the right place at the right time... in other words plain, common, ordinary luck...

Secondly, I do not really know what being a man really means... but whatever it is... whatever definition you can find or come up with... I'm sure I would qualify as mediocre at best...

Maybe... the best achievement I think of... the only one I am really proud of... is finally deciding to face, overcome and conquer my fears... to finally be able to stand before those I love and trust completely naked both physically and spiritually... so they can see me for who I really am... without disguises... without secrets... without fears... allowing them to really meet for the first time the freak behind the mask... not caring anymore if they were going to like what they saw... giving them an opportunity to accept me, to like me and to love me the way I am... That, my friends, took guts... Guts I did not know I had.