I am but a boy

These days there are some pretty bad stereotypes associated with men. They involve anything from a man's personal hygiene and practices, to his respect for females, to his relationship with beer and the remote control. Being male myself, I know that many of those stereotypes have some truth to them. I'll shamefully admit that I've lived up to the odd one myself.

But in my head, the ideal Man or what every real man should be, is very different. With some redundancy in the different entries, here goes.

A Man:

• has control of his emotions and desires
• is calm
• is slow to speak and quick to listen
• is self disciplined
• walks tall in silent pride of his accomplishments
• (yet) is humble and respectful towards every other form of life, from fellow humans to the plankton in the oceans
• knows his place in the universe and smiles contently at this
• is more noble as a slave, than many a person as a king
• is constantly seeking to better himself
• is selfless and giving in every way
• has honor and principles
• knows that the only way to attain wisdom is by humbling himself
• takes more than his share of the blame and less than his share of the credit (John C. Maxwell came up with this before I could)
• is benevolent towards all
• has a tremendous capacity to love everyone
• can love and respect others, without his happiness relying on their reciprocating him
• is loyal all his days
• behaves the same in secret, as he would in public
• takes pleasure in other's happiness
• needs little, yet enjoys even the smallest of things with gratitude, considering them a bonus to be treasured
• does not hold back forgiving and loving those who wronged him
• constantly seeks to understand himself and others better
• is passionate in his love for others and all that is right
• doesn't talk much about his ideals; lives them instead

That is my concept of a true Man.

Maybe some distant day, I'll become one.