[[I've just been thinking today about all of the amazing men I have in my life. My father, my husband, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, my guy friends from college and now in grad school, guy friends I grew up with..the list goes on and on. Thinking about all of these great guys reminds me that not every guy treats every girl the way that the wonderful men in my life do. So, I just wanted to take a minute to thank them and all the other kind men out there.]]

A letter to all the gentlemen:

Whether we've had the chance to engage in conversation or not, I'd like to send an open "thank you" out into the universe to all of the gentlemen. To all the gentlemen who keep their eyes to themselves when a woman passes them in public. To all the gentlemen who have helped open a door when I clearly didn't have a hand to make it happen. To all the gentlemen who talk to me like I'm an actual person/adult and not like a child or someone else who could not possibly understand what you're talking about. To all the gentlemen who appreciate me for the fact that I can hold a real, in-depth conversation about meaningful topics. To all the gentlemen who encourage me to be who I am despite how the rest of the world might try to discredit my personality, my body, or my ideas. To all the gentlemen who joke around with me and do not attempt to keep our relationship in a bubble of safety so as not to hurt my feelings. To all the gentlemen who do acknowledge that I have feelings and are mindful of them without treating me differently than "one of the guys." To all the gentlemen who don't make sexist jokes. To all the gentlemen that actually believe in gender equality. To all the gentlemen who love the women in their lives, care for them with all of their being, and treat other women that they randomly meet on the street, in a store, in a homeless shelter, at a gas station, at a church, at a bar, at a school like you've known them all your life. Thank you.

 Thankful for you today!