the way i see it - boys and men

the way I see it, the distinct difference between boys and men aside from the greater amount of flatulence, facial hair, receding hairline and hairier balls, is how far you have to fall when you've screwed up. Men fall further.

Yes men fall further in the eyes of the world in comparison to boys. If you never take up the mantle of being a man, you shall always remain loved in the eyes of the world regardless of how many times you fall or how bad that fall is. Why?

It's boils down to the expectation that the world places on boys and men.

Boys are expected to fall, to be irresponsible, to lack good sense, to make mistakes, to be immature. It's the norm, no one is phased when by the stupidity of boys. In fact there is a saying that basically makes everything alright for a boy. It goes "boys will be boys". That saying is basically a green light for a boy to do just about anything and get away with it.

Men are expected to be responsible, to be strong, to be secure, to be infallible, to be steady, to be level headed, to provide, to be mature. Sayings like "be the bigger man" come into play, which basically tell men to be all that is expected of them. The seemingly ominous duty of being a man is daunting, filled with strife and copious amounts of responsibility. It is like being forged in the hottest furness. Many crack under immense weight of this responsibility. Can the boy survive the forging process? Can this boy be a man?

It's a lot for the boy trying to wear a man's shoes to take on at once because at the heart of it, the boy remains forever, hidden within the man. Eventually the boy becomes a man, though not every boy wants to. What sort of man would this boy be? The answer I dare not consider for fear it will be something I cannot live with.

I am the boy content with being a boy and nothing more for now. I am Peter Pan, my mind is my neverland.