From Loneliness to Brotherhood: How 52 Cards Changed My Life

Many men go through their days, weeks, and even months feeling deeply lonely — and yet, they rarely talk about it.

When I first moved to Los Angeles fifteen years ago, I didn’t have many friends. A female college friend lived nearby with her boyfriend, and one night, he gave me a pep talk about settling in here. “LA is a lonely place,” he said. “I’ve got a brother nearby, and I love spending time with my girlfriend, but I still feel lonely.”

That hit me. Here was a guy with people around him — someone in love, building a career as a stand-up comic, seemingly living the dream — yet loneliness still found him.

Around that time, I watched I Love You, Man, a comedy set in LA about two unlikely best friends. It captured the city so well that it made me want to move here. But what stuck with me more was the film’s message: male friendship is invaluable. It’s not just funny moments and shared interests — it’s something deeper.

When I finally settled into LA, I made friends — great friends. Friends I’d share laughs, milestones, and unforgettable memories with. For a while, I wasn’t lonely. But life moved on. Kids were born, people moved away, and deep conversations became rare.

It’s just what happens as you grow older. Routines take over. People stop reaching out. Sharing becomes… scarce.

But three years ago, a group of men from all over the U.S. began meeting every other Monday, and everything changed. We talked about the triumphs and struggles of being men today. We shared stories about parenting, about our parents, about love, anger, and yes — about farting. Over time, these conversations made us feel less alone.

I already had a child, a supportive family, and a network of people who cared about me. But something was missing. I realized I’d stopped sharing my life in a meaningful way.

And isn’t that the case for so many men? Sure, we interact with coworkers, neighbors, and friends, but how much real sharing happens?

Sharing isn’t new — it’s one of the first skills kids learn. But for most men in our generation, emotional sharing wasn’t modeled by our fathers. It’s not anyone’s fault, but it’s a fact. Many of us were raised in environments where opening up was either discouraged or just… never mentioned.

If we teach kids to share toys, snacks, and space, why don’t we teach boys to share their feelings, stories, and experiences?

That’s where The Journey Deck comes in. This deck was created by me and the same group of guys who met every other Monday. Over the past four years, we distilled our most valuable, transformative conversations into 52 essential questions — designed to help men open up, connect, and strengthen their relationships.