Darrell | Building Better Men
Sharing the journey of positive masculinity - being strong enough to be gentle, confident enough to admit mistakes.
Men supporting men. Outdoors, fitness, building things. You don't have to have it all figured out. The work is the point.
- We teach boys to "toughen up" and then wonder why men struggle to connect. It's okay to be soft. It's okay to need a hug. Suppressing your humanity doesn't make you strong, it just makes you brittle. Eventually, brittle things break. #EmotionalHealth #BreakTheStigma
- "Unskilled labor" is a myth used to keep wages low. Whether you're pouring concrete, flipping burgers, or stocking shelves, you have skills that keep society running. Respect every worker. ✊ #LaborRights #Solidarity #Workplace #FairWages #RespectTheWork
- I don't train to look like a movie star. I train so I can lift lumber at work and hike on weekends without getting winded. Your body is a tool, not an ornament. Respect it for what it does for you, not just how it looks in the mirror. #FunctionalFitness #Health
- Unloaded a shipment of treated lumber at the store today. There’s a specific kind of tired that feels earned. A hot shower and a cold beer is the best therapy money can buy. Grateful for a body that works and a job that keeps me moving. #BlueCollar #WorkLife #Gratitude
- February is the longest short month. The gray skies can get heavy. I use a SAD lamp, but honestly, checking on friends helps more than the light does. How are you keeping your spirits up this winter? Drop a tip below. 👇 #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder #MentalHealth #WinterBlues #CommunityCare #CheckIn
- "Manly" isn't a rigid checklist. It's just being honest with yourself. If you love baking, gardening, or knitting, own it. True strength is being secure enough not to care if your hobbies fit an outdated script. Real confidence is quiet. #BeYourself #PositiveMasculinity
- January felt long, but good. Built some shelves, caught some cold air, connected with new friends. If you felt stuck this month, just look at your feet and take one step. Slow progress is still progress. Keep building. #MonthEnd #KeepGoing
- Compliment your friends. Not just on their car or their job. Tell them they’re a good dad. Tell them they handled a tough situation well. Men are starved for validation. Be the guy who gives it freely. #Friendship #PositiveMasculinity
- Real strength isn't just about lifting heavy things. Sometimes strength is confident enough to say "I don't know" or "I'm overwhelmed." Don't let an old definition of toughness keep you isolated. Check on your buddies today. #PositiveMasculinity #MentalHealth
- I snapped at a coworker today. Old me would have justified it. New me went back 10 minutes later and said, "I was wrong, and I'm sorry." Apologizing doesn't undermine your authority. It shows you value respect over your ego. #Growth #Accountability
- I manage a team at the hardware store. I've learned that the loudest voice in the room is usually the most insecure. You don't need to yell to lead. Calmness is contagious. If you keep your head when things go wrong, everyone else will too. #Leadership #WorkLife
- Spent three hours in the shop today without talking to a soul. Solitude is different than isolation. Isolation drains you; solitude refills the tank. If you're feeling snappy or burned out, you might just need some quiet time to hear your own thoughts. #Introvert #SelfCare
- If you know a trade or a skill, pass it on. Mentorship is the rent we pay for the space we take up. Don't hoard knowledge. Who are you teaching? Who is teaching you? 🔨 #Mentorship #Trades #Education #PayItForward #Community
- Reflecting on our group call. A lot of guys feel like they have to have all the answers for their families. That's a crushing weight. It is incredibly freeing to look your kid or partner in the eye and say, "I don't know, let's figure it out together." #Parenting #Vulnerability
- 15 guys showed up last night. We didn't solve the world's problems, but we talked about stress, fatherhood, and feeling tired. No fixing, just listening. Sometimes just knowing you aren't the only one struggling is the relief you need. #Community #TheOpenBench
- Hosting my first "Open Bench" community call tonight. Honestly? My palms are sweating. It’s scary to put yourself out there and lead. But comfort zones are where dreams go to die. If you're nervous about something this week, do it anyway. #Vulnerability #MensMentalHealth
- Workout done. I see a lot of guys treating the gym like a punishment for what they ate or how they look. Try treating it like a thank-you note to your body for carrying you through the week. Shift the mindset, shift the results. #Fitness #BodyPositivity
- Public lands belong to all of us. Protecting them isn't political; it's necessary for our survival. Take a hike, pick up some trash, leave it better than you found it. Where is your happy place outdoors? 🌲 #PublicLands #Nature #Conservation #LeaveNoTrace #Outdoors
- My girlfriend was venting about work today. My brain immediately went into "Fix It" mode. I had to physically stop myself from offering solutions. She didn't need a mechanic; she needed a witness. Sometimes the manly thing to do is just shut up and listen. #Relationships #ActiveListening
- Cooking isn't a chore for "someone else" to do. It's a survival skill. Feeding yourself and your people is a primal form of care. What's your go-to comfort meal in this cold weather? 🍲 #Cooking #LifeSkills #ComfortFood #Nutrition #SelfReliance
- Finally hung the shelves. There’s a gap on the left side that only I notice, but Sarah loves them. I had to bite my tongue not to point out the mistake. Learning that a gift made with love is better than a project made with anxiety. #Handmade #Relationships
- Throwing away a toaster because a $2 spring broke makes no sense. We need better Right to Repair laws. If you can't open it, you don't really own it. Fight for the ability to fix your stuff. 🔧 #RightToRepair #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #DIY #FixIt
- Sent a text to three guys today just to say "Thinking of you, hope you're good." No agenda. We're bad at maintaining friendships as we get older. We wait for a crisis to reach out. Don't wait. Build the bridge before you need to cross it. #Brotherhood #MensHealth
- Books are cheaper than therapy and last longer than a movie. Libraries are one of the last free public spaces where you aren't expected to spend money. Go use them. What are you reading right now? 📚 #Library #PublicGoods #Reading #Education #Community
- Garage was freezing this morning. It was a battle just to get out of the warm house for the workout. But keeping promises to yourself—especially the small ones—is how you build self-respect. Iron is cold, but the coffee after is good. #Discipline #MorningRoutine
- Best thing a friend did for you when you were down? For me, it was Mike just sitting in silence while we fished. No advice, just presence. Let's share some good examples of support in the comments. I want to read them. 👇 #MentalHealth #Friendship #Support #MensHealth #Connection
- There’s a difference between being "stoic" and being numb. Stoicism is feeling the emotion but choosing how to act. Numbness is pretending the emotion isn't there until it explodes. Choose the rudder, not the blindfold. #Philosophy #EmotionalIntelligence
- Support your local hardware store over the big box giants. The prices might be pennies more, but the money stays in town and builds your community. Plus, Dave actually knows how to fix your sink. Vote with your wallet. 🏪 #ShopLocal #Community #SmallBusiness #LawrenceKS #Economics
- Sanding down this reclaimed barn wood for Sarah's shelves. Found a deep knot I can't sand out. I used to try to force these things perfect. Now I'm learning that the flaws are where the character lives. Trying to apply that to myself, too. #Woodworking #ProgressNotPerfection
- Unpopular opinion: 4am wakeups aren't superior. Rest is productive. If you need sleep, take it. We aren't robots. Stop glorifying the grind that grinds you down. How are you prioritizing rest this week? 😴 #Rest #MentalHealth #AntiHustle #SelfCare #Human
- The "Sunday Scaries" hit us all. I used to just grit my teeth through the anxiety. Now, I try to name it. "I'm worried about that shipment tomorrow." Naming the fear shrinks it down to size. You don't have to be fearless to be effective. #MentalHealth #SundayReset
- There's no such thing as "man's work" or "woman's work." Just work that needs doing. Teach your daughters to use a drill. Teach your sons to sew a button. Competence has no gender. What life skill are you teaching the next generation? 🛠️ #LifeSkills #Parenting #DIY #Equality #Teaching
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