In the movie Hitch, Hitch gives the advice, “She wants to know the real you, just not all at once.” I think that’s much better advice than wearing a mask. How much we reveal to another is based on trust, sure. But it took me nearly three decades to finally understand that some people just don’t reveal who they are, and those types aren’t good people for me to reveal myself to.

My advice, to anyone, but especially men, as we’re so poor at this skill… isn’t to wear a mask, but in building skills to discern; Is someone wearing a mask? Are they being forthcoming? Because when one is open and the other isn’t there’s an imbalance, and the one who reveals is far more vulnerable. And again, for anyone, if you get the sense someone isn’t being open? End it or distance yourself, even in platonic friendships.