I want to say something that my generation rarely says out loud: being tough your whole life doesn't actually protect you from loneliness - it just means you're better at hiding it from everyone, including yourself - Silicon Canals

"I spent decades telling myself that being strong meant never showing weakness, never asking for help, never admitting I needed anyone. Turns out I was just getting really good at lying to myself."

"Here's what nobody tells you about being the rock everyone leans on: rocks don't have friends. They have people who need things from them."

"For decades, guys called me when they needed electrical work done. When they needed advice about contractors. When they needed to borrow a tool. But when my shoulder went out and I couldn't work for a while? Cricket sounds."

Admitting that a tough exterior can become a prison is challenging. Many men are raised to believe that strength means not showing weakness or asking for help. This mindset can lead to profound loneliness, as demonstrated by the realization of having many contacts but no one to talk to. The societal expectation of men to be stoic and self-reliant often results in emotional isolation, where the rock that others lean on lacks true friendships and support in times of need.

Read at Silicon Canals