Maxim Monday: Honor Good Men

This Maxim is likely using the word ‘men’ to mean humans. (Any Greek scholars want to help me out here?) So, yes, let’s honor good people where we find them.

We can get caught up parsing the word ‘good’ and wonder who among us is truly good? Everyone has a flaw, a blind spot, or something dishonorable in their past. Yet, we should honor the good we want to see more of in the world.

On that note, I’d like to honor a good man in my life. It’s a few days after Valentine’s day, a ‘holiday’ I don’t observe, at least not in the ways that mainstream card and chocolate makers would like me to. I’m gonna get mushy and honor my husband and partner, Adam Blodgett. He is a good man.

Adam and I have been through the mud of relationship. I have seen the less-than-good parts of him. Yet none of these things can obscure his goodness: his ability to nurture, listen, support. He has always, always been there for me and for all of his friends. When it comes to community, he stretches himself to put his values into action. He gives to charity, offers to support his friends, and makes time for his family. He works hard to support of a family of four, even when it feels like an uphill battle. He challenges himself to seek his own betterment and greater self-care so that he not only has more to give others, but also to support his own unfolding work.

Adam also challenges himself to face his own privileges. As an educated, able-bodied, cis-gendered, straight white male, he actively seeks to understand how his privileges impact his life and the lives of others. I see him struggle with how he can best use his privileges for the greater good – or how he can get out of the way, so that others might benefit.

As a father and partner, all of these qualities are of the highest good. I am proud that my kids have such an involved and ‘good’ example of what it means to be human in the world. I love that they see him cry and nurture, pursue his art, work towards greater self-care, and struggle with being in the world. I love him in all his complexity.

I honor the good man in my life – and all the good men out there.