15 WAYS TO TELL YOU THIS IS A REAL MAN

As a woman, there’s nothing better than being
in the presence of a man who relishes in his
masculinity in a way that doesn’t involve the
obvious chest-pounding and cat-calling, but
the confident reserve of a gentleman.
Now, before you accuse me of hating men, let
me be clear; I love more things about men
than I can put into one article. This is not
about finding female empowerment though
man-bashing.
Quite the opposite, actually.It’s a celebration
of the grown up man’s man who knows how to
treat a woman. What does this man look like,
to me, at least? Well…
1. He is hygienic, but cleans his nails and
trims his nose hairs outside of a nail salon.


2. He can balance both swag and
sophistication and a career and a personal
life without too many proverbial exclamation
points (and certainly not multiple ones in a
text message. No, no, no).


3. He reserves his “LOL” for actual laughter,
which he exudes out loud and often.
4. He isn’t looking to play “pen pal” with you
through your iPhone because he knows that all
text and no play makes Johnny a very dull
boy.


5. When he’s interested in a woman, he
doesn’t wait three days to call her, but he
does actually call her, and when he does, he
asks her out for dinner, makes reservations,
picks a great bottle of wine (because he knows
how to) and then makes sure she gets home
safely.


6. If he wants to see her again, he lets her
know, and if he doesn’t, he politely lets her
know that it was a pleasure to spend time
with her, even if it wasn’t. He does, however,
let her know gently and firmly enough that
he’s not interested so that she doesn’t waste
her time thinking it might become something it
won’t.


7. He reads actual books and newspapers and
holds opinions on everything from scotch
pairings to world events all the while
understanding that not all of his opinions are
facts and that not everyone has to agree with
him in order for him to maintain his
relationships or his manhood. In fact, he
enjoys it when you don’t agree with him
because it means he gets to indulge you in a
good debate or leave you thinking a little bit
harder about things than when you sat down
in front of him.


8. He opens doors and takes coats, not
because he feels a woman is weak, but
because he is strong enough to show that he
cares about the comfort of those around him.


9. Sure, he might want to get into a woman’s
bed, but he’s also interested in getting into
her head as experience has shown him that
seduction is a delicate dance and the man
who resides in her mind has conquered every
other part of her.


10. He appreciates a woman who shows she
cares for him, but he isn’t interested in being
courted. He enjoys taking the lead in courting
and doesn’t need to be “chased” because he’s
in desperate need of an ego stroke. He also
won’t play “puppy dog” to a woman who takes
advantage of this.


11. He doesn’t look to be anyone’s father or
savior, and he doesn’t pretend to be the
leading man in any woman’s fairy tale. He’s
just a man looking for a partner who can slay
her own dragons, pay her own bills and
explore the world alongside him.


12. He looks for a woman who doesn’t need
him, but wants him, not for money or the
happiness or a baby or a safety net, but
solely for who he is.


13. He has a career, a hobby, a family of
close friends and a favorite way to have his
steak prepared and he isn’t the least bit
intimidated when the woman in front of him
shares these qualities; quite the contrary, it
makes him want her more.


14. He has taken the time to get to know
himself and has a strong understanding of
his own character and convictions, what he
values and what he doesn’t. He is a man who
is honest with himself about himself and
therefore is OK being honest with those around
him.


15. He takes as much pride in the way he
treats women he’s with as he does his job and
the way he looks.


16. He’s not the bad boy, a good boy, or a boy
at all; he’s a man. A leading man, and he’s
looking not for a good girl, but a great
woman. One who shares all of the solid
qualities that he brings to the table, and
perhaps, can teach him something along the
way. He’s willing to wait and work for this
woman, to fight for her and will gladly hold
out for her as long as he needs to. But when
she comes along, he doesn’t sit on the fence;
he’s smart enough to know when he’s gotten
damned lucky. And when she finds him, she
should be smart enough to know the same.