What does it mean to be a man?
What does it mean to be a man?
I can't tell you. I can only tell you what it means to be me. I am a man. I do my best to be a good one.
There is a perception that men have it easy. In some ways we do. I'm not here to draw comparisons or claim men have it just as bad or worse than anyone else. I'm just here to tell you that men are struggling.
Right, wrong, or indifferent, I am traditionally masculine. I view myself as a provider and protector. I wish to be seen as strong, courageous, resilient, and invulnerable. I want others to seek out my leadership. I want to be respected. I want men and women to recognize me as physically and intellectually capable – in the case of other men – to the point they fear reprisal from me.
At times, the nature of this world and the pressures of society, coupled with those desires, have led me to feel weak, unfulfilled, inadequate, and useless. At one time or another, most men feel the same way.
These same feelings contribute to a medical crisis that's been rampant across the world for a very long time. Men - young and old - take their own lives at alarming rates.
Now - to be clear - I'm doing just fine. This post isn't about me. It's about spreading awareness and helping others.
Movember ("M"ustache N"ovember") is an international nonprofit organization that supports men's health by raising awareness about suicide and other men's health issues, like testicular cancer. November is their month. It's their Superbowl!
This Movember, I'm participating in their Move for Movember challenge. I'll run 60 miles this month for the 60 men lost to suicide, on average, every hour, across the world.
I'm not looking for donations, just do me this solid:
Tell a man in your life that you appreciate them. Tell them that you value them.
When I'm feeling down, the last thing I want is to be coddled. I don't want to be "heard." I don't want to be "understood."
I want to feel valued and capable. I imagine I'm not the only man who feels that way.
– Tyler O’Brien –
