I Just Want to Know You

“Sometimes you have to know someone really well to realize you’re really strangers.”  – Mary Tyler Moore


As a young adult my mentor once told me that I am a deep thinker and a deep feeler.  For a long time I had no idea what that really meant, but I finally figured it out about 10-15 years ago.  I experienced a few life struggles and have had endless conversations with myself before I truly discovered the meaning and the value of what it meant to be wired this way.  

For me it was accepting the fact that I rarely fit into a mold of what a regular guy does, what a regular guy thinks or what even a regular guy feels at times.  Don’t get me wrong, I am a man and embody the full characteristics of a regular guy, but in many cases my opinions, thoughts and ideas differ from most men.  I am neither better or less than any other guy, but I am me, Henry. 

One area this has impacted my life more than anywhere else is in my relationships, both male in bonding and female intimacy.  I have always longed to know my friends in a deep and meaningful way.  It was really like a prerequisite to being my real friend, or you simply fell into the acquaintance category, which was easy to do.

The most influential component to this type of relationship is the ability and the choice to become vulnerable to another.  Not just anyone, but to a specific person or select group of people.  It is making the choice to live outside the shadows of comfort and ambiguity, and become authentically known by someone.  Known in a way that reveals your true identity, embarrassing flaws and imperfect beauty. 

To discover and experience such a relationship is very rare and many will never find it, not because it was not available to them, but because  it is much simpler to remain in the shadows of life, than to give the pieces of us that reveal our true character, motivations and layers of who we really are.

It has been imbedded in us since we were kids. That concept to suck it up, pretend it doesn’t hurt, (when it absolutely does) smile even when you feel bad and never let them see you sweat.  It all sounds good and seems like a smart recipe to becoming a strong kid/adult.  But is it really?  Is the end product really stronger, better and more in touch with their true identity or are they being taught to become great at pretending, faking and that lying to themselves is okay? 

I am not here to answer that question for you or the world, but I can speak for myself and those I have relationships with.  At the end of the day, I just want to know you and I want you to know me.  The real me, the strong me, the afraid me, the confident and fragile me, the indecisive me, the smart me, the don’t have it all together yet me, the broken and getting back on my feet me.  Just me and my imperfect beauty and strength. Can you handle that?

Many cannot and will abandon you at first indication of true reality setting in, but that’s okay because they are not worthy of who you really are.  They will not be able to grasp it or understand how to engage in this type of relationship, so they will naturally find an exit for themselves.  Allow them to go.

I have learned that the first person we lie to is ourselves, so until we can begin to live our truth to ourselves first, we will continue to live in the shadows of mystery, illusions and ultimately darkness.  The by-product seems to always be disappointment, brokenness and a sense of being incomplete.  Who wants to keep living this way, even if it causes you to feel okay for a season? 

That season will one day come to an end and what will you have left to claim?  The lie?  I have been there, done that and understand it is no longer the life for me.  

As a deep thinker and a deep feeler, I will always ask why.  It is in my DNA.  I will always probe and never settle for the easy way out.  I will deeply feel my questions and responses, which will motivate me understand better and with more clarity.  I will not be quick to judge, but I demand truth, not half lies.  When you give me truth I give you me, when you offer me lies our relationship is no longer credible, and will eventually die.  Our lives are too short for anything less, because I just want to know you, nothing more and nothing less and it takes a lifetime to attain. 


Keep Pressing,

Hank G


Leave a Comment
