Vulnerability “I’m sorry.” This is a phrase many of us use with great frequency, but one thing I believe no one should ever apologize for is how they feel. When you apologize for how you feel, you’re apologizing for being real. Despite knowing this many of us feel the need to mask who we are to fit society’s standards, but if the standards we try to mimic lack vulnerability, then what are we trying to be like? Oxford Dictionary states the definition of vulnerability as fearing the possibility of being attacked or harmed physically, or emotionally. In this project, I highlight the similarities in feelings among men of all ages and backgrounds. When working with each of them, there was a moment in which they let go of the fear of how they might be perceived by others, and simply became themselves. For some, it was as simple as laughing, and for others, it was inviting me into their lives and allowing me to reflect with them. This project taught me that men are not out of touch with their emotions, they just do not always have environments that allow them to feel comfortable or heard when expressing how they feel. My whole life I have only considered what men can do to make my environment more pleasant, but how often do we consider what we can do for them? When was the last time you gave a guy flowers, held a door open for him, or even just offered to listen? Men typically struggle to find ways in which they feel heard and understood. This often leads to concealing how they feel to appear strong. Prior to this exploration of vulnerability, I was afraid of putting myself out there. Taking the leap of faith scares me more than the outcome ever will. In completing this series, I feel I have learned that everyone feels this in their own way. Each subject I photographed has an environment that helps them escape, but none of them mentioned a person. I encourage all of us to become a version of that person for others so that we no longer have to say “I’m sorry” for expressing how we feel.