Darrell | Building Better Men
@buildingbetter.bsky.social
Sharing the journey of positive masculinity - being strong enough to be gentle, confident enough to admit mistakes.
Men supporting men. Outdoors, fitness, building things. You don't have to have it all figured out. The work is the point.
Men supporting men. Outdoors, fitness, building things. You don't have to have it all figured out. The work is the point.
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There's no such thing as "man's work" or "woman's work." Just work that needs doing. Teach your daughters to use a drill. Teach your sons to sew a button. Competence has no gender. What life skill are you teaching the next generation? 🛠️ #LifeSkills #Parenting #DIY #Equality #Teaching
Small towns in Kansas belong to everyone. I want my LGBTQ+ neighbors to feel just as safe and welcome at the hardware store as I do. Inclusion isn't political; it's just being a decent neighbor. 🏳️🌈 #Inclusion #RuralLife #Allyship #Kansas #Community
February 20, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Small towns in Kansas belong to everyone. I want my LGBTQ+ neighbors to feel just as safe and welcome at the hardware store as I do. Inclusion isn't political; it's just being a decent neighbor. 🏳️🌈 #Inclusion #RuralLife #Allyship #Kansas #Community
Met a young guy from our group for coffee. Had to stand the whole time because sitting hurts. He's going through a rough breakup. Realized my "bad back week" is nothing compared to his heartache. Perspective helps the pain. #Mentorship #Community #Perspective
February 18, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Met a young guy from our group for coffee. Had to stand the whole time because sitting hurts. He's going through a rough breakup. Realized my "bad back week" is nothing compared to his heartache. Perspective helps the pain. #Mentorship #Community #Perspective
Normalize men taking sick days for mental health. You don't need a fever to be unwell. If the engine is overheating, you pull the truck over. Why treat your brain differently? Who is prioritizing rest today? #MentalHealthMatters #SickDay #EndTheStigma #SelfCare #Wellness
February 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Normalize men taking sick days for mental health. You don't need a fever to be unwell. If the engine is overheating, you pull the truck over. Why treat your brain differently? Who is prioritizing rest today? #MentalHealthMatters #SickDay #EndTheStigma #SelfCare #Wellness
Skipped the fancy Valentine's dinner. Cooked at home with Sarah instead (she did the lifting, I did the chopping). We talked about where we want to be in 5 years. Scary to say some of those big dreams out loud, but necessary. #RelationshipGoals #FuturePlanning #Staycation
February 15, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Skipped the fancy Valentine's dinner. Cooked at home with Sarah instead (she did the lifting, I did the chopping). We talked about where we want to be in 5 years. Scary to say some of those big dreams out loud, but necessary. #RelationshipGoals #FuturePlanning #Staycation
It's easy to look at another guy's choices and think he's doing it wrong. But we don't see the load he's carrying. Before you judge someone's path, remember we're all just trying to figure this out without a manual. Grace is a muscle—train it. #NoJudgment #Empathy
February 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM
It's easy to look at another guy's choices and think he's doing it wrong. But we don't see the load he's carrying. Before you judge someone's path, remember we're all just trying to figure this out without a manual. Grace is a muscle—train it. #NoJudgment #Empathy
Sarah is carrying all the grocery bags in because I can't lift them. I'm walking in empty-handed. My ego is taking a beating, but she smiles and tells me to get the door. She's a partner in every sense. Learning to be taken care of is a lesson I didn't know I needed. #Partnership #Love #RealLife
February 14, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Sarah is carrying all the grocery bags in because I can't lift them. I'm walking in empty-handed. My ego is taking a beating, but she smiles and tells me to get the door. She's a partner in every sense. Learning to be taken care of is a lesson I didn't know I needed. #Partnership #Love #RealLife
Cheap boots hurt your back and cost more in the long run because you replace them twice a year. "Buy nice or buy twice" applies to public infrastructure too. We need to invest in our communities, not just patch the potholes. 🥾 #Infrastructure #Sustainability #BuyItForLife #Civics #Economics
February 13, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Cheap boots hurt your back and cost more in the long run because you replace them twice a year. "Buy nice or buy twice" applies to public infrastructure too. We need to invest in our communities, not just patch the potholes. 🥾 #Infrastructure #Sustainability #BuyItForLife #Civics #Economics
Cleaning the house or doing dishes isn't "helping her out." It's maintaining your own habitat. The old idea that domestic work belongs to one gender doesn't serve anyone. Be a full partner, not a guest in your own life. #Partnership #ModernManhood
February 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Cleaning the house or doing dishes isn't "helping her out." It's maintaining your own habitat. The old idea that domestic work belongs to one gender doesn't serve anyone. Be a full partner, not a guest in your own life. #Partnership #ModernManhood
Had to ask my coworker Tom to handle the heavy lifting today. I hated doing it. Felt like I wasn't pulling my weight. He just said, "I got you, boss." Why is it so hard to accept help without feeling guilty? Working on that. #Vulnerability #WorkTeam #MensHealth
February 12, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Had to ask my coworker Tom to handle the heavy lifting today. I hated doing it. Felt like I wasn't pulling my weight. He just said, "I got you, boss." Why is it so hard to accept help without feeling guilty? Working on that. #Vulnerability #WorkTeam #MensHealth
Well, I felt a pop. Moved a box wrong at work and my lower back seized up. Frustrating to go from "capable" to "can't tie my own shoes" in one second. Humbling. Looks like I'm going to be moving very slowly for a while. #Setback #Injury #GettingOld
February 10, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Well, I felt a pop. Moved a box wrong at work and my lower back seized up. Frustrating to go from "capable" to "can't tie my own shoes" in one second. Humbling. Looks like I'm going to be moving very slowly for a while. #Setback #Injury #GettingOld
A missed cut in the woodshop means you grab a new board. A mistake in life means you grab a fresh start. Don't beat yourself up for a bad day or a slip-up. Guilt is a terrible fuel engine. Forgive yourself and get back to work. #Resilience #GrowthMindset
February 10, 2026 at 2:30 AM
A missed cut in the woodshop means you grab a new board. A mistake in life means you grab a fresh start. Don't beat yourself up for a bad day or a slip-up. Guilt is a terrible fuel engine. Forgive yourself and get back to work. #Resilience #GrowthMindset
Watching the Super Bowl later. Love the game, hate the commercials that imply you aren't a "real man" if you don't buy this specific truck or beer. You define you, not a marketing team. Who are you rooting for? 🏈 #SuperBowl #Marketing #BeYourself #PositiveMasculinity #Football
February 8, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Watching the Super Bowl later. Love the game, hate the commercials that imply you aren't a "real man" if you don't buy this specific truck or beer. You define you, not a marketing team. Who are you rooting for? 🏈 #SuperBowl #Marketing #BeYourself #PositiveMasculinity #Football
Saturday morning in the shop. No big projects today, just sharpening chisels and organizing the bench. You can't do good work with dull tools or a cluttered mind. Taking time to maintain your gear is part of the craft. #Woodworking #Mindfulness #Workshop
February 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Saturday morning in the shop. No big projects today, just sharpening chisels and organizing the bench. You can't do good work with dull tools or a cluttered mind. Taking time to maintain your gear is part of the craft. #Woodworking #Mindfulness #Workshop
We teach boys to "toughen up" and then wonder why men struggle to connect. It's okay to be soft. It's okay to need a hug. Suppressing your humanity doesn't make you strong, it just makes you brittle. Eventually, brittle things break. #EmotionalHealth #BreakTheStigma
February 6, 2026 at 6:15 PM
We teach boys to "toughen up" and then wonder why men struggle to connect. It's okay to be soft. It's okay to need a hug. Suppressing your humanity doesn't make you strong, it just makes you brittle. Eventually, brittle things break. #EmotionalHealth #BreakTheStigma
"Unskilled labor" is a myth used to keep wages low. Whether you're pouring concrete, flipping burgers, or stocking shelves, you have skills that keep society running. Respect every worker. ✊ #LaborRights #Solidarity #Workplace #FairWages #RespectTheWork
February 5, 2026 at 6:15 PM
"Unskilled labor" is a myth used to keep wages low. Whether you're pouring concrete, flipping burgers, or stocking shelves, you have skills that keep society running. Respect every worker. ✊ #LaborRights #Solidarity #Workplace #FairWages #RespectTheWork
I don't train to look like a movie star. I train so I can lift lumber at work and hike on weekends without getting winded. Your body is a tool, not an ornament. Respect it for what it does for you, not just how it looks in the mirror. #FunctionalFitness #Health
February 5, 2026 at 12:45 AM
I don't train to look like a movie star. I train so I can lift lumber at work and hike on weekends without getting winded. Your body is a tool, not an ornament. Respect it for what it does for you, not just how it looks in the mirror. #FunctionalFitness #Health
Unloaded a shipment of treated lumber at the store today. There’s a specific kind of tired that feels earned. A hot shower and a cold beer is the best therapy money can buy. Grateful for a body that works and a job that keeps me moving. #BlueCollar #WorkLife #Gratitude
February 3, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Unloaded a shipment of treated lumber at the store today. There’s a specific kind of tired that feels earned. A hot shower and a cold beer is the best therapy money can buy. Grateful for a body that works and a job that keeps me moving. #BlueCollar #WorkLife #Gratitude
February is the longest short month. The gray skies can get heavy. I use a SAD lamp, but honestly, checking on friends helps more than the light does. How are you keeping your spirits up this winter? Drop a tip below. 👇 #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder #MentalHealth #WinterBlues #CommunityCare #CheckIn
February 2, 2026 at 1:30 PM
February is the longest short month. The gray skies can get heavy. I use a SAD lamp, but honestly, checking on friends helps more than the light does. How are you keeping your spirits up this winter? Drop a tip below. 👇 #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder #MentalHealth #WinterBlues #CommunityCare #CheckIn
"Manly" isn't a rigid checklist. It's just being honest with yourself. If you love baking, gardening, or knitting, own it. True strength is being secure enough not to care if your hobbies fit an outdated script. Real confidence is quiet. #BeYourself #PositiveMasculinity
February 1, 2026 at 3:00 PM
"Manly" isn't a rigid checklist. It's just being honest with yourself. If you love baking, gardening, or knitting, own it. True strength is being secure enough not to care if your hobbies fit an outdated script. Real confidence is quiet. #BeYourself #PositiveMasculinity
January felt long, but good. Built some shelves, caught some cold air, connected with new friends. If you felt stuck this month, just look at your feet and take one step. Slow progress is still progress. Keep building. #MonthEnd #KeepGoing
January 31, 2026 at 10:00 PM
January felt long, but good. Built some shelves, caught some cold air, connected with new friends. If you felt stuck this month, just look at your feet and take one step. Slow progress is still progress. Keep building. #MonthEnd #KeepGoing
Compliment your friends. Not just on their car or their job. Tell them they’re a good dad. Tell them they handled a tough situation well. Men are starved for validation. Be the guy who gives it freely. #Friendship #PositiveMasculinity
January 30, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Compliment your friends. Not just on their car or their job. Tell them they’re a good dad. Tell them they handled a tough situation well. Men are starved for validation. Be the guy who gives it freely. #Friendship #PositiveMasculinity
Real strength isn't just about lifting heavy things. Sometimes strength is confident enough to say "I don't know" or "I'm overwhelmed." Don't let an old definition of toughness keep you isolated. Check on your buddies today. #PositiveMasculinity #MentalHealth
January 29, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Real strength isn't just about lifting heavy things. Sometimes strength is confident enough to say "I don't know" or "I'm overwhelmed." Don't let an old definition of toughness keep you isolated. Check on your buddies today. #PositiveMasculinity #MentalHealth
I snapped at a coworker today. Old me would have justified it. New me went back 10 minutes later and said, "I was wrong, and I'm sorry." Apologizing doesn't undermine your authority. It shows you value respect over your ego. #Growth #Accountability
January 28, 2026 at 11:45 PM
I snapped at a coworker today. Old me would have justified it. New me went back 10 minutes later and said, "I was wrong, and I'm sorry." Apologizing doesn't undermine your authority. It shows you value respect over your ego. #Growth #Accountability