From Longing to Becoming: My Journey to Masculinity Without a Father

Growing up, I always felt like a piece of the puzzle was missing. In a world brimming with father-son fishing trips, proud pats on the back at graduation, and man-to-man talks about life’s big questions, my canvas was starkly blank. My parents separated when I was young, leaving me with a void that most boys my age didn’t know.

Searching for a North Star

Like a ship navigating the vastness of an ocean without a compass, I sought direction. My eyes would invariably gravitate towards men who radiated the kind of strength and wisdom I craved. From schoolteachers to public figures, movie characters to family friends — any man who exhibited a semblance of the fatherly love I yearned for became a beacon.

The Weight of Absence

Not having a father wasn’t just about the missing baseball games or guidance about the intricacies of shaving. It was the absence of a guiding masculine force, someone to teach me resilience, integrity, responsibility, and the deeper meaning of manhood. The playground jibes of “Where’s your dad?” weren’t just questions. They were stark…