Advice to a Young Teenager

One of my older cousins decided to impart some words of wisdom when I was 14 years old. He was a junior at university, back home for summer vacation. I was visiting his family, up watching late night television. He walked through the door after a night out, made himself a sandwich and sat with me for a bit. I wasn't sure what he was talking about (and it is highly probable he was under the influence of liquor at the time) but his words stayed with me and gave me valuable insight into the psyche of a man.

No man is looking to start a relationship in the club

Disclaimer
**This LastBornChild has never tried to start a relationship with someone from a club. NEVER. Truth be told, I stay with people I know at clubs - I go for the music and the drink, I supply my own friends.**

Now, back to the post. What I took away was, if a man doesn't tell you / show you he cares, then he probably doesn't. Men don't start caring in a club and men consider club-like environments as off-the-record. Recently, I read a short essay and from Ekene Agabu stumbled upon an articulate quote that reinforces the point my inebriated (well-meaning and loveable as always) cousin made to me all those years ago.

"As a man, I must call myself to higher standards. Before I touch you, I must respect you like my mother, protect you like my sister and look out for your best interest like my baby"

To me, the message in both is very similar, though the delivery couldn't be more different apart. The underlying theme is being able and willing to respect. My cousin's blunt method got his message across to me in a very effective way. Thinking about that one-sided conversation still makes me laugh.