What can men learn from women about mental health?

Yesterday’s knowledge has taught us that males are problem solvers and are the most hardworking. In the ancient days man’s honour was seen in their dominance over women. Men believed that sympathy and emotions was feminine and was reserved for women. In times of stress, drugs and aggressive behaviours was the only way to go. Waking up to a new meaning to the sun. A new name which comes with its own delights and celebrations. March, the Women History Month. The month of march has never sparked any emotion until l realised the absence of my little sister who has grown to be a woman, who has paved her way in the stars and came back with 2 two beautiful angels Thando and Leah. Sitting alone l remembered that everything l am is because of her, the rebukes, laughs and fights contributed to the reasons l still believe. Seeing her grow up l always thought she was living life in a silver spoon. However losing our mother in 2005 meant that she had to take the motherly role which she was too young to attend to, so l thought. But what am sure is l only started doing house chores in August 2018 when l left home for university, call it laziness but was being pampered like a king. She has been a mother in the shadows and am sure in her l have full confidence that no matter how the arrows of life have pierced me and left me worthless, she will always do what’s best for me. With all these medals and praises a note hit and l started wondering, where does all this mental strength comes from. Women were gifted with ability to interact with whoever is willing to listen. They were given the grace to adapt to new environments in a short period of time. From the tales of heartbreak and pain l have heard her narrate and some l can attest to, a question clouds my thought AS A MAN, WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM WOMEN? In the modern era, young women though still going through same mental challenges as their grandmothers due to the cultural atmosphere clouded by yesterday’s knowledge. Women are expected to play different roles at once regardless of their emotions. Is this a genetic gift infused in women’ genomes? In the quests to understand the adventures women go through and how they have been able to be the spine of a society that has made living a little difficult for the girl child. Prevailing in uncertain times, women have planted the seed of hope among generations and have the ability through their multiply roles through their out their lives. They are expected to play the role of a child where they are expected be responsible for all household chores, they are expected to also be able to establish themselves running when they are married and having moved to a completely new family with different set of culture and expectations. This meant that women had to accept everything that came their way that is domestic abuse, rape, verbal abuse among many. However next morning they always woke up to their responsibilities. They blew stressful situations like chaff being blown by the wind, there has to be a secret manual to such mental strength. From my quests l understood that women and men attend to mental challenges in a not so similar manner. Women have been able to deal with their emotions compared to their male counterparts. In the darkness, a question rang in my head, “Are you going to enjoy the emotional rollercoaster or are we going to climb the ladder to self-actualization by taking care of our mental health? As a man what can l learn?” Looking at women they are many lessons l have learnt. They were gifted with persistence. Setting their eyes on fantasy they always get things done. In the break of dawn l understood that l was spoilt rotten and had everything done for me. My little sister never for once complained about being a woman. The emotional rollercoasters never deterred her pride as a woman. Regardless of her monthly subscription to pain, she never complained about my laziness. Actually she made sure l never realised l was lazy. As a woman she has been resilient throughout the storms of life, the scorch heat has never deterred her from the roles she was expected to rise up to. Looking into her life, Cynthia cemented the idea that in terms of mental health, resilience can be a contributing factor to overcoming the emotion rollercoaster that may cloud our judgement. Resilience refer to a state of mind where one stands with the decisions they have taken, regardless of the difficulties they are facing. If one is to climb the ladder of self-actualisation, women have shown that the ability to fight for what you believe in comes with the hailstorms of pain and suffering while letting go of dreams, summons the dawn. The ability to walk through the storms have given women a leeway to mental strength. Yesterday’s knowledge dictates that as men we are to hide under shades when the storms of life pour. Most male youths have trained themselves to avoid mental health issues citing that emotions are for women. What if we as the Internet Age we modernised the mental health institutions, both males and females resilient against mental health issues. Yesterday’s knowledge has taught us that women have to leave their parent’s place to reside with their in-laws. They are expected to learn a new different lifestyle in a short period of time. In the last two years l have watched my little sister mastering her new cultural role as a wife and daughter-in-law. The stars and the moon can attest, the scorching hot while she play the part of a heroine. Indeed not every hero/ heroine wears a hat. Clothed with the mist of love, her essence strengthening the bounds of time. Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls learn from the best cause She is a woman. A Happy Women History Mon