by Greg Hall, Civil Engineer, Brisbane

Particularly inspired by the writings of Oliver Harling in a recent post titled: “Stitched Up“, I sit here reflecting on my days of youth and at primary school being referred to as a ‘Ladies Man’ (named after a popular TV sitcom of the time) – I didn’t mind being teased because I felt that the boys doing the teasing were really just envious of my choice to honour being me. I was friends with the boys at school but really did not like the way it felt to be acting up and playing rough games in the play ground to ‘jostle for hierarchy’ and prove one’s physical capabilities rather than spending time with girls who pretty much accepted me for simply being a gentle me.

By year 8 and the peer pressures of high school, I began to cave in to the pressure to conform. I hated playing rugby, always knew alcohol felt awful and tasted terrible too (chocolate is a far more insidious hook because it fools your taste buds!) and I found that the girls no longer wanted ‘the so-called’ me around (I wasn’t being honest about who I was, and they may also have begun to change their own ‘expectations’).

Spending the next 25 odd years becoming more and more ‘lost’ from who I am (that little boy who knew exactly who he was), meant that even alcohol and coffee began to taste good and I certainly only ever had any feeling of ill if I went drastically overboard – a long way removed from just a single sip warning me of the danger/harm by its taste…

Then a few years ago I attended a few presentations by Serge Benhayon that shed light on who I truly am and why I was so far removed from being me through the choices I’ve made throughout my life.

With all that gathered momentum, my life is a challenging ‘ship’ to make an about turn in, but I’m coming around and it’s with all these honest, frank, courageous blog statements and particularly Oliver’s recent post offered here, that makes it so much easier for all boys and men alike, to recognise they are no different – if only they choose to be, as Oliver (and others) has chosen.

… And to the younger generations reading these blogs – embrace the opportunity to choose to be you, it’s surely easier to swing an about turn on a ‘young jet-ski’ rather than in an ‘old ship’…