How a Man Should Behave: The Intentional Idiot

One of the more confusing roles I find myself thrust into as I age is that of mentor and confidante.

Younger people expect me to know what to do; and how to do it. I recognize the affliction; when I was younger it’s exactly what I expected of older persons, parents, mentors, and surrogate parents alike.

The situation puts demands on us; people want help, and yet we don’t actually know what to do. We don’t have any idea. Life looks just as unexpected, confusing and contradictory now as it did when I was younger; perhaps even more so.

And I, by the way, am an idiot. That’s something I have definitely learned. Knowing that can come in very handy at times. I’m not just any idiot, though; I’m this idiot. That single point of self-awareness is what true idiocy turns on: the ability to fully commit to being an idiot, instead of being halfway there without a prayer. Once you absolutely know you’re an idiot, the self doubt generally needed to obtain good results is already present.