Daily Thoughts & Issues IN THIS ISSUE: JUNE 1 Daily Thoughts Book of the Week Photo of the Week Today's Issue: Affirmation Tomorrow's Issue: Awareness See the list of the issues for International Men's Month. Menstuff columns by Author Awareness events this month Upcoming Men's Events Days left until the next millennium 01.01.3001 Photo of the Week Bill Hatcher/Adventure Photo & Film Achieve Your Dreams June 1 - International Men's Month. * Partner's Day - Day to give thanks to your spouse/partner for precious love shared. * Mindfulness Day-Zen Buddhist day for mindfully seeing the interdependence of all things at all times. * Gay and Lesbian Coming Out Month - Time to celebrate all forms of love and family. The Mystic's Wheel of the Year * Children's Day (China). * Independence Day in Samoa, Western Samoa. * Plymouth (MA) Plantation Earthquake (1638), the first in the US to have been recorded and described in writing occurred at 2pm. * Lou Gehrig plays the first of 2,130 consecutive baseball games with the Yankees in 1925. * Birthdays: Brigham Young, Pat Boone, Morgan Freeman, Andy Griffith, Alexi Lalas, Ron Wood, Cleavon Little, JacquesMarquette, Rene Auberjonois, Pat Corley, Mark Curry, Jonathan Pryce, Edward Woodward. Learn to identify poisonous plants and avoid them! DAILY THOUGHTS June is dedicated to the Goddess of Old Roman, Juno, protector of marriage and family, punisher of abusive and adulterous spouses, and partner of love and happiness. It is also Gay & Lesbian Coming Out month - time to celebrate all forms of love and family. From a psychological base, June is a time to confront the Negative Voice that tells you your performance must be perfect or it is a total failure. Focus on the positive aspects of your performance. Affirm that even an imperfect effort is valuable in itself and necessary for the learning process. Keep trying. Explore music, dance, poetry and art. The Mystic's Wheel of the Year Camp In. Sometimes bringing a little of the outdoors indoors is just the right solution for a bedtime balker. Setting up a little kid-sized pup tent with your child's own sleeping bag inside just may be all the encouragement your child needs to hit the hay on time each night. Family Feelings The longest-running annual gay and lesbian film festival is San Francisco's International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. It premiered in 1977. Gay & Lesbian Calendar Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and to be that perfectly. - St. Francis de Sales. Achieve Your Dreams Things to Be Happy About:  A country wedding. Sunscreen that works. Grandpa's rocker. 14,000 Things to Be Happy About  There isn't a lot of time between green bananas and speckled bananas. Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me People with a Lose/Win attitude bury a lot of feelings, and unexpressed feelings come forth later in uglier ways. Psychosomatic illnesses often are the reincarnation of cumulative resentment, deep disappointment, and disillusionment repressed by the Lose/Win mentality. Disproportionate rage or anger, overreaction to minor provocation, and cynicism are other embodiments of suppressed emotion. People who are constantly repressing, not transcending, feelings toward a higher meaning find that it affects the quality of their self-esteem and eventually the quality of their relationships with others.  Seven Habits of Highly Effective People You nourish your soul by fulfilling your destiny. - Harold Kushner. If Life is a Game, These are the Rules One of the simplest ways to brighten your mood is to step into the sunlight. Experiment with this. Connect with the sun every day for the next couple of weeks to see how beneficial it can be for expanding your inner awareness.   Simplify Your Life Making choices is self-empowering. Recognize all the opportunities for choice in your life and become someone who acts rather than simply reacts.  Stress Busters Travel the freeway for nonstop fun. Here's a game you can play alone. Look at a car ahead of you. Guess how many people are in the car, their hair color, age, sex and other traits. If you pass the car, check your guesses.  To Do Today History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats. - B. C. Forbes. Win the Day! Este (EHSteh) Nuestra casa esta al este del rio. Our house is east of the river. Living Language TODAY'S ISSUE: AFFIRMATIONS Man's inherent nature is to be curious, gentle, intimate, responsible, enthusiastic, sensual, tolerant, courageous, honest, vulnerable, affectionate, proud, spiritual, committed, wild, nurturing, peaceful, helpful, intense, compassionate, happy, and to fully and safely express all emotions. When will we stop training him to be otherwise?  Gordon Clay Male-Privilege - A Different Perspective The following may be a somewhat different perspective than what is usually written regarding Male Privilege. But, in fact, it is currently being thought that misogyny starts near the moment of birth for most boys. Shortly after birth, 70% of American boys have the privilege of being sexually mutilated (circumcised) compared to .4% in Great Britain. Is it any wonder that over 15 million men are impotent and another 12 million lack sexual desire. Men have the privilege to grow in a society that encourages boys to "be tough". Dads and moms buy war toys. And, 64% of adolescent boys hit or beat-up another kid in the past year. In their lifetime, one in five men will spend a night in jail and men represent 70% of the prison population. Men also have the unique privilege of expecting to willingly give up life to protect others. (There are currently 78M MIAs (Missing In Action) from WWII and 3M from Viet Nam). More than 25% of Viet Vets suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And, because men are encouraged and expected to do the dangerous and risky jobs, 97% of industrial deaths and disabling accidents happen to men. 30 of every 1000 minors and 60 or every 1000 farmers died or were disabled on the job in one single year. And, while it is the privilege of men to give up 7 years of their life versus women, if we've been encouraged into pro-football, they will die 14 years earlier. And, if it's pro-boxing that they've been told "makes a real man", 87% of them will suffer brain damage. With all this, a man has the distinct privilege of 7 fewer years to enjoy life, 7 years less to enjoy their kids, 7 years less to enjoy their grandchildren (if at all) and 7 years less to play. If a man makes it to retirement, he'll die an average of 2 years later. Men have been encouraged to "burn the midnight oil" or the "candle at both ends" at work for that chance at the executive carrot that fewer than 10% of men will get. And, of all the baseball players who sign a pro contract, only 10% ever appear in a major league game. And, while still seen by most courts as having sole financial responsibility for the needs of the family, no matter what, 80% of the 8 million new jobs created went to women. It has been the privilege of men to become "big boys who don't cry". The average man cries 1.4 times a month to 5.3 for women. The average American man touches another human being 6-8 times a day, 4-6 of them sexual. The average Spanish man touches another human being over 100 times a day, 6-8 of them are sexual. In marriage, while men take twice as long to commit, only 20% of them file for divorce and 80% of them say they would marry their former wives if they had it to do over (versus only 50% of the women). So, in divorce, 58% of the men say they are happier compared to 85% of the women and, if it happens, they will suffer 3 times more depressions, 2 times more illness. Men represent 75% of the mental ward population. And, while only representing 30% of the suicide attempts, men represent 80% of successful suicides (as adolescents or adults). While this is not meant to defend men's past actions, and expects them to be accountable for them, this does lead one to think that maybe they aren't the only ones creating the world that provides this privilege. Would you trade places? - Gordon Clay June's psychological focus is nurturing, peace, love, passion and compassion. If you are a man, take this day to appreciate the good things about you and the good things about other men. The things we are and do. And, if someone appreciates us today, allow the space to take it in. Don't discount it. Just accept it. Even if it comes at you sideways. Appreciate it. If you are a woman, take this day to find something good in the men in your life and appreciate them for it. A lover, a friend, a father, an uncle, the male mail clerks, the trash collectors, the male mechanics that work on your car. Follow it up with a note, if you want, to make it really sink in. If you're looking for some really good affirmations, any of these books should fill the bill. Purchase one and use it. Check under bookstores for one near you that has a separate men's section or click on "Buy this Book" and Menstuff will benefit from your purchase. And, maybe even buy a second book around a pertinent men's issues that's up for you right now. Hey Man: Did you make a difference yesterday? Let us know at Contact Us. Something to think about. The ideas we will offer are meant as beginning steps for men who want to make changes in key areas of their lives: relationships with women, children, other men, parents, and siblings; their understanding of their emotions, sexuality; their relationship to work, money, their bodies, and the community where they live. If you have ever felt old in your bones or weighted down by obligation or wanted to redefine and reinvent yourself, then you might find something useful here. Please don't try to follow all of the suggestions over the year or you'll feel overwhelmed, which is the opposite of the intended effect. These are the ramblings of a white, mid-forties male from the Midwest who has had the opportunity to learn a lot from the men with whom he has worked. I wish to be helpful, and to make a difference for people who are seeking a better way to live. This is not meant as a "self" help section. In fact, I believe that the notion that people can change all by themselves is misguided. Most change occurs when two or more people cooperate together. This is why the most successful behavior change programs rely on group support as the primary structure for change. Throughout this section, I encourage men to work with other men in their effort to make significant changes in their lives. Perhaps you'll find yourself thinking more consciously about doing good deeds, about slowing down, about showing a little tenderness, about taking a walk in the woods with your dad, your daughter, your dog, or even by yourself. That would be nice, I hope to be doing the same. Robert Pasick, author, What Every Man Needs to Know Want to make a difference but you don't know where to start? BOOK OF THE DAY Be the Change:  How meditation can transform you and the world, Ed and Deb Shapiro BOOK OF THE WEEK Reducing Infant Mortality and Improving the Health of Babies. A documentary film supporting maternal/infant health care. The societal economic cost for preterm births is over $26 billion a year: almost $17 billion in medical care services, $6 billion in lost household and labor productivity, another $2 billion in maternal delivery costs, a little over $1 billion in special education care for disabling conditions, and over $600 million in early intervention services. This film is at the forefront of the birth revolution in America! It is a must-see for everyone who cares about birth in America today and particularly expectant parents., DVD, 2009 www.reducinginfantmortality.com, debtaki@yahoo.com (free)   MENSTUFF COLUMNS BY AUTHOR The Advice Diva - The Advice Diva - relationship and sexuality issues discussed - www.menstuff.org/columns/advicediva/archive.html Peter Alsop - Song of the Month - www.menstuff.org/columns/alsop/archive.html Reid Baer - A Man Overboard - Interview of the Month - www.menstuff.org/columns/overboard/archive.html Reid Baer - Poetry - poetry read on YouTube - www.menstuff.org/columns/baer/archive.html Molly Barrow - Shrink About This - www.menstuff.org/columns/barrow/archive.html Peter Baylies - At Home Dads - on at-home-dad issues that impact fathers who stay at home to raise their kids - www.menstuff.org/columns/baylies/archive.html Tom Blake - Middle-Age Relationships - from an expert on dating after 50. www.menstuff.org/columns/blake/archive.html Mark Brandenburg - Great Fathers - on fathering issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/greatfathers/archive.html Ted Braude - BoysWork - a columnist in the The Detroit Free Press "Body and Mind" section www.menstuff.org/columns/braude/archive.html Armin Brott - A Father's Guide - hosts "Positive Parenting" on radio www.menstuff.org/columns/brott/archive.html Dan Bulf - Get Real - weekly pod cast on men's issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/bulf/archive.html Ken Byers - Transition - on men's life transitions - www.menstuff.org/columns/byers/archive.html Sandra L. Caron - Sex Talk - college students get answers to their questions - www.menstuff.org/columns/sextalk/archive.html Neil Chethik - Relationships - www.menstuff.org/columns/chethik/archive.html Otto & Susie Collins - Susie and Otto - relationship issues discussed - www.menstuff.org/columns/susie&otto/archive.html David Copeland - How to Succeed with Women - www.menstuff.org/columns/howtosucceed/archive.html Forrest Craver - Spirituality & Social Change - www.menstuff.org/columns/craver/archive.html Layne & Paul Cutright - Powerful Partnerships - relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/cutright/archive.html Ron DesMarais - Cavemen in the Kitchen - great recipes for men - www.menstuff.org/columns/desmarais/archive.html Jed Diamond - Irritable Male Syndrome - www.menstuff.org/columns/diamond/archive.html Doc Love - Women Don't Lie, Man Don't Listen - answers to relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/doclov/archive.html Barry Durdant-Hollamby - Creating Change - creating change in your life - www.menstuff.org/columns/durdant/archive.html Irv Engel - The Real Deal - www.menstuff.org/columns/engel/archive.html Nancy Fagan - Expert Dating Advice - with Nancy Fagan - www.menstuf.org/columns/fagan/archive.html Warren Farrell - Men's Issues: Facts and Perspectives www.menstuff.org/columns/farrell/archive.html Leonard Felder - Wake Up or Break Up - www.menstuff.org/columns/felder/archive.html Marty Friedman - Strong Men, Strong Marriage - www.menstuff.org/columns/friedman/archive.html Kim Garretson - Mansgland - using humor to encourage prostate exams - www.menstuff.org/columns/mansgland/archive.html Lion Goodman - How to get Women to Love You - www.menstuff.org/columns/goodman/archive.html Liz Halliday - In a Man's World - www.menstuff.org/columns/halliday/archive.html Rick Hanson - Your Wise Brain - www.menstuff.org/columns/hanson/archive.html Tim Hartnett - Daddyman Speaks - being a father www.menstuff.org/columns/daddyman/archive.html John Hershey - Blood, Phlegm & Bile: Parenting with Humor - He writes a syndicated biweekly humor column about parenting and family life. www.menstuff.org/columns/hershey/archive.html Gary Hoeber - Psychotherapy as Soul Work, www.menstuff.org/columns/hoeber/archive.html Patrick Houser - Fathers Make a World of Difference, www.menstuff.org/columns/houser/archive.html Paul Joannides - The Guide to Getting It On - on sex - www.menstuff.org/columns/getiton/archive.html Jack Kahn - NOMAS Boston - www.menstuff.org/columns/kahn/archive.html Patrick Kennedy - Seniors - www.menstuff.org/columns/kennedy/archive.html Joe Kort - Gaydar - to increase understanding between gay and het men - www.menstuff.org/columns/kort/archive.html David Kundtz - David Kundtz - presents seminars, workshops, retreats, and conference presentations in the areas of men's emotional health, stress management, and spirituality. www.menstuff.org/columns/kundtz/archive.html Bruce Linton - Dr. Dad - on fathering - www.menstuff.org/columns/drdad/archive.html Ron Louis - How to Succeed with Women - www.menstuff.org/columns/howtosucceed/archive.html Tom Matlack - Tom Matlack - Good Men Project - www.menstuff.org/columns/matlack/archive.html Wendy McElroy - Wendy McElroy on Feminism, www.menstuff.org/columns/mcelroy/archive.html Robert N. Minor - Minor Details - on GBT sexuality - www.menstuff.org/columns/minordetails/archive.html Robert L. Moore - Man & Mythology - www.menstuff.org/columns/moore/archive.html Dennis W. Neder - Being a Man - general questions about men's lives - www.menstuff.org/columns/neder/archive.html Marty Nemko - Worklife - general questions about men and work - www.menstuff.org/columns/nemko/archive.html Eli Newberger - Eli Newberger - general information on men's lives - www.menstuff.org/columns/newberger/archive.html Linda Nielsen - Embracing the Father - working with the father/daughter relationship. www.menstuff.org/columns/nielsen/archive.html Kathy Noll - Bullies and Youth Violence - working with schools, teachers and parents to end school violence - www.menstuff.org/columns/noll/archive.html Mark Phillips - Stay-at-Home-Dads - helping men maintain that which makes us men, instead of becoming hairy Mom-substitutes - www.menstuff.org/columns/phillips/archive.html Carey Roberts - Socialism & Feminism - is a social commentator on political correctness. www.menstuff.org/columns/roberts/archive.html Perry Rose - Dating, Relationship, Sex Glenn Sacks - His Side - on fathering - www.menstuff.org/columns/sacks/archive.html Trudy Schuett - Domestic Violence - serving the under-represented www.menstuff.org/columns/schuett/archive.html Carl J. Schutt - Circumcision - social commentator on circumcision - www.menstuff.org/columns/schutt/archive.html Hugo Schwyzer - A Pro-feminist's Response - www.menstuff.org/columns/schwyzer/archive.html Michael Shaffran - Men's Issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/shaffran/archive.html Judith Sherven - Judith & Jim - discussion and answers regarding relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/judith&jim/archive.html Judith Sherven - The New Intimacy - www.menstuff.org/columns/newintimacy/archive.html George Simons - Bellicose Veins - is a US specialist in intercultural and gender communication who hangs out in Mandelieu - la Napoule, France, as well as in Santa Cruz, CA. www.menstuff.org/columns/simons/archive.html Andy Smith - Hard Hat Brotherhood - www.menstuff.org/columns/hardhat/archive.html David B. Smith - Fighting Father Dave - www.menstuff.org/columns/smith/archive.html Jim Sniechowski - Judith & Jim - discussion and answers regarding relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/judith&jim/archive.html Jim Sniechowski - The New Intimacy - www.menstuff.org/columns/newintimacy/archive.html Reena Sommer - Custody - is an internationally recognized relationship and divorce consultant. www.menstuff.org/columns/sommer/archive.html R. Don Steele - Don Steele - relationship questions answered - www.menstuff.org/columns/steele/archive.html David Steinberg - Comes Naturally - on sexuality - www.menstuff.org/columns/steinberg/archive.html Mary Lou St Lucas - A Mother's Love - www.menstuf.org/columns/stlucas/archive.html Surprise - Surprise Author - From a new columnist every month - www.menstuff.org/columns/surprise/archive.html Steven Svoboda - Fatherhood, Activism and the Law www.menstuff.org/columns/svoboda/archive.html Michael Taylor - A New Conversation with Men - www.menstuff.org/columns/taylor/archive.html Bruce Van Horn - Yoga for Men - issues around the health benefits of yoga for men - www.menstuff.org/yoga/archive.html Michael Webb - Secrets of Blissful Relationships - on relationship - www.menstuff.org/columns/bliss/archive.html Stuart Wilde - Spirituality - www.menstuff.org/columns/wilde/archive.html Dr.Williams - Sex Health - on sexual health - Dr. Williams, www.menstuff.org/columns/sexhealth/archive.html KC Wilson - On Gender Politics is a social commentator and author. www.menstuff.org/columns/wilson/archive.html Plus Health Tips - on general health - www.menstuff.org/columns/healthtips/archive.html Independent Means - resources for raising financially fit kids - www.menstuff.org/columns/independentmeans/archive.html Numbers - www.menstuff.org/columns/numbers/archive.html Questions - www.menstuff.org/columns/q&a/archive.html Surprise - from a new columnist every month - www.menstuff.org/columns/surprise/archive.html Words Can Heal - helping children grow up healthy - www.menstuff.org/columns/wordscanheal/archive.html Wuzup?! - National or international events happening this month - www.menstuff.org/columns/whassup/archive.html AWARENESS EVENTS THIS MONTH June is Adopt-A-Shelter Cat; Cancer from the Sun; Children's Awareness; Entrepreneurs "Do It Yourself" Marketing; Fireworks Safety; *Gay & Lesbian Pride Coming Out Month - Time to celebrate all forms of love and family; International Men's; International People Skills; National Bless-a-Child; National Burglary Prevention; National Rivers; National Safety; National Scleroderma Awareness; Rebuild Your Life; Student Safety; Vision Research and National Headache Awareness Month. Jun 1-30 is International Men's Month - See List of Men's Issues & Book of the Day. Each day at "Today" on our home page, we will be presenting information on a different men's issue. The issue changes each day at midnight, so check in to learn more about "Men's Issues" and men's lives. We will also have a Book of the Day concerning that issue. This might be the perfect time to sign up for our free newsletter which will bring all of this to you each morning. Spread the word and let everyone in your address book know. May 14-Jun 18: National Family Month. Week of June 1-7: International Volunteers; Stepparents Week. June 2-9: National Homeownership Week. June 2-10: National Fishing Week. June 3-9: Black Single Parents, National Hug Holiday, *Small Business Week. June 7-14: Nurses Assistants Day and Week. June 10-16: *National Flag Week. June 11-17:  Meet a Mate, *National Little League Baseball; National Men's Health Week in the U.S. and Canada. June 13-20: National Hermit Week. June 17-23: National Forgiveness; Universal Father's Week. June 17-24: Amateur Radio Week. June 18-22:  Take Your Pet to Work Week. June 24-30: Carpenter Any Awareness; Helen Keller Deaf-Blindness Awareness Week. June 27 - July 4: Special Recreation Week. June 1: National New Year's Resolution Recommitment; Stand for Children Day that encourages individuals to improve children's lives. www.stand.org. June 1-2 Donut; Partner's Day - Day to give thanks to your spouse/partner for precious love shared. June 2: Mindfulness; National Trails Day; June 3: Children's Awareness, June 4: United Nationals International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. June 5: Alternative Officing, National Family, United Nations World Environment Day - Day to mourn the harm done to the earth (past and present), make reparation and celebrate its beauty. June 9: Take a Kid Fishing Weekend. June 10: Abused Women and Children's Awareness Day; Alcoholics Anonymous founded. Children's Sunday. June 11:  Race Unity Day. June 14: *Flag Day,  Family History; Sustainable Development Day - Day the world's nations committed to sustainable development (1992). June 15: Magna Carta Day. June 16: *Father's Day, Family Awareness, United Nations World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Join Hands Day. June 19: National Splurge; Still Need to Do; World Sauntering Day. June 20:  World Juggling; Toad Hollow Day of Thank You. June 21:  Baby Boomers Recognition Day. June 23: Let It Go Day. June 24: Celebration of the Senses; America's Kids Day. June 26: UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking; National Columnist's Day. June 27: National HIV Testing; Special Recreation for Disabled, Decide to Be Married Day. June 28: Stonewall Riots - (1969), day to mourn victims of homophobia (past and present), make peace, and celebrate lesbian and gay empowerment. June 29: Peter & Paul Day. June 30: Descendants Day.  *    *    * Men are so competitive that we even "out-die" women in all 15 of the major causes of death in the U.S. Most of these deaths are preventable with a positive change in life-style, eating habits, and/or general health care. Let's not strive so hard to hold on to this record. See what you can change now to live a healthier life. Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Statement Menstuff® Directory Menstuff® is a registered trademark of Gordon Clay ©1996-2023, Gordon Clay