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Staffing My First NWTA (New Warrior Adventure Training)

This weekend I took part in staffing a New Warrior Training Adventure weekend. This is the very event that I completed as an initiate less than five months ago. It is a powerful, transformative weekend put on by The ManKind Project. If I was in charge of the world, it would be mandatory training for all men.

Staffing was fun, challenging, awe-inspiring, emotional, and so much more. I saw many familiar faces from my original weekend, both men who staffed it and some new brothers who went through it with me. Some men had seen my videos and podcasts, so I got to be the center of attention at times, and also witness and observe many powerful moments. On the final day I had the opportunity to bring a lot of laughter to the weekend, which was a total blast.

I honestly cannot recommend the New Warrior Training Adventure enough. I will be definitely be staffing again. There is even a women’s version of the weekend called Women Within.

Proud and honored to be, Fun-Loving Chipmunk. As a man among men, I love unconditionally.

Fun-Living Chipmunk

Check out the Real Men Feel episode where I shared my experience going thru the NWTA weekend last October. Real Men Feel 32: New Warrior Training Adventure Report.

Scary Mail

I received a letter in the mail before Thanksgiving and I’ve been resisting opening it.
Who sent it? What am I afraid of?
Watch now to find out.

 

Love LetterExplore sending a love letter, a pick-me up, a pep-talk, note to yourself. Ideally, wait long enough to open it that you won’t recall what you wrote, then allow yourself to be surprised, touched, proud, grateful…

The ManKind Project’s New Warrior Training Adventure

This weekend I attended the Graduation and Homecoming event for the New Warrior Training Adventure weekend I completed two weeks ago. It is a powerful, transformative event put on by The ManKind Project. I made before and after videos and dedicated an episode of the Real Men Feel podcast to it as well. You can dig in to all of that goodness right here. That episode has quickly become the most popular show we’ve done yet and I’ve heard feedback from men, and a couple of women, from all over the world.

I really can’t recommend the New Warrior Training Adventure enough. At homecoming I got to witness what partners and spouses have seen in their men since they’ve returned and got to learn more about all the amazing thinks MKP is up to. There is even a women’s version of the weekend called Women Within.

I attended the NWTA weekend to gain some clarity over my own work with men and whether Real Men Feel was really something worth continuing with. The work I experienced and witnessed, along with the overwhelming feedback I’ve received via email, online and in-person regarding the podcast has left me with no doubt about my mission.

I also learned my animal name, Fun-Loving Chipmunk, which I am enjoying more every day.

Fun-Living Chipmunk

My man card, or rather my New Warrior certificate.

Man Certification

I cannot encourage men to explore the ManKind Project strongly enough, and women please check out Women Within. It isn’t just a female version, it is a weekend created by and for women. There is also program for boys and one for men behind bars.

I’ll be volunteering at the next New Warrior Training Adventure being held in Massachusetts in March 2017. I hope to see you there.

FU: I Love You

The first time I ever did a “fuck you, I love you” post it was how I signed off on a video after a friend seemed to die by suicide. It was unplanned wording that perfectly reflected how I was feeling. I used it again in a video after Robin William’s suicide (wow, two years ago for both). In each case, I was saying that I loved them, the person, but I was pissed at how they went out. The “fuck you” was to suicide.

I find myself thinking those same seemingly opposed thoughts, fuck you and I love you, in regards to my father. I wrote a post earlier today for RealMenFeel.org called Strong Enough to Be Sad (read it now if you want to be fully up to speed before proceeding. It’s short and I’ll wait.).

I often tell my coaching clients that they can love someone and still be angry, annoyed, bitter, resentful or frustrated with them. Unconditional love doesn’t mean you don’t also have other emotions, it means beneath all the other emotions, even the so-called ‘negative’ ones, there is love. Unconditional love for yourself means loving you even when you can’t stand you.

Today I brought my dad to see his oncologist for an appointment that we both knew meant cancer was back. He’s already had surgery to remove cancer from his colon and kidneys. While sitting in the waiting room today, he noticed writing on my wrist. He said, “I know I’ve asked before, but what does that say?”

On my left wrist is my first tattoo, which I got six years ago this month. Getting it was a pretty big deal. The incidents that inspired it had me interviewed on CNN and ABC’s Nightline. My dad knew all of this because he lived through it all too.

He was now asking me again what it says on my wrist. No big deal I thought. “It says GRATEFUL,” I told him. His response was a new one. He said, “Jesus Christ, what a faker!’ and stared at me with a slight smirk like he was waiting for me to laugh or react, I’m not really sure.Grateful

I wanted to reply with a hearty, “I hope you die alone on the streets,” and walk out. Instead I turned away, took a slow deep breath, reminded myself that in his dementia-ravaged and scared mind, that was the best he could do for a nervous joke to pass the time. I muttered, “Fuck you, I love you.”

During the appointment we discovered he has multiple growing cancers in his lungs, liver and stomach. Fuck you, I love you.

fuck-you2I-LOVE-YOU-beautiful-pictures-31167221-900-644

To Be A Man: Live Workshop in Acton Mass

What does it mean to be a man? Have you ever taken some time to ponder that?

Are you living your own definition of being a man or someone else’s?

Do you sometimes wonder if you are a “real” man or what that term even means?

Too many men I meet say they don’t have a place or a friend to talk to about what is really important to them; their goals, their fears… whatever it might be. If you ever wished you had a place to share your fears, stresses and worries with other men, this is your chance.

To Be A Man
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (EST)
The Sanctuary of Acton
1 on 1 Self Indulgence Spa
457 Great Road
Acton, MA 01720


7:00 pm-9:00 pm Workshop
$30 if you pre-register/
$35 if you pay at the door




“What a great class! Tackled the tough topics…Andy has a way of simplifying things and motivating his audience. I applaud his “guts” for getting a group of men together, taking on such topics, and helping us feel more hu- man.”

Real Men Support Each Other