[SisterLynx]

Men's feelings - the ultimate oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp and military intelligence? Most of us have heard the metaphors bordering on psychobabble regarding men's feelings:

· He needs to open up.

· He lives inside a shell.

· He keeps his feelings bottled up.

· He doesn't know his own feelings.

· He's in denial.

· He needs to own his anger.

· He's sitting on piles of rage.

· He isn't in touch with his feelings.

· He just won't talk.



These are usually expressed as complaints, and usually from the women in our lives. When a man "opens up," it usually means he's willing to talk. Then we might hear "He's gotten in touch with his softer (or feminine) side."