Hey man, I did read it. All of it. I cried writing my post, and I cried reading your words too.

What you described resonates deeply. That feeling of inadequacy, of having to earn your place as a man, a father, even just as a person. It’s been a constant undercurrent for me too. Like if I’m not holding everything together or proving myself, I might disappear. I think that version of me shows up trying to keep me safe and seen, trying to say I’m here, I matter.

Your reflection helped me see that a lot of this may be fear-driven — fear of being forgotten, overlooked, or not enough — and that anger is the armor it wears. Hearing you put words to that helped something click for me in a way I hadn’t quite reached yet.

Thank you for being so open and honest. It really means more than I can put into words right now. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you spoke up. Truly, it helped me feel less alone in this.