What Happens When Boys Learn That It’s O.K. To Love
By Ayize Ma’at
Recently I was invited to a high school in the Washington D.C. area to speak to a group of 11th grade boys about what is required to make relationships work. To my surprise the majority of the group was engaged and appeared to be fixated on what I as the speaker represented. As I spoke to them, I watched them look at me with curiosity, hope, and comfort as I invited them into a sacred space to explore vulnerability, commitment, fear, and courage in front of their peers. These young men opened up and shared things they’d never considered sharing with their peers. They willingly walked with me along a journey where they learned it’s o.k. to be afraid…it’s o.k. to take risk…..it’s o.k. to let your guards down and be vulnerable……IT’S O.K. TO LOVE.
When I finished speaking….several of the young men came up to me and said thank you. One young man in particular said, “I knew true love was possible….that’s what I’m going to have”.
I asked them how they felt after opening up and taking a risk to enter into a space of transparency.
The overwhelming majority of them said…….”STRONGER”
