A Good Man is a Healthy Man
Breaking down slowly but surely as we get older is expected, and it’s normal.
I just turned 30 and my favorite running joke of the year is to say that I’ve ordered my knee replacement on Amazon just to be prepared.
And yet, I’ll bet that you know or have heard of at least a few people in their 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s that are still running around and enjoying life as if age never really caught up to them. My grandfather is 92 and he’s finally slowed down to volunteering at only two places instead of five, and that’s only because COVID forced him to slow down.
Wouldn’t it be something if we could be bonding with our great grandkids, traveling the world, enjoying an extended leisurely retirement, or still on some other grand pursuits in our older age?
Genetics certainly play a major factor, but so does being intentional with your health, something that most men tend to struggle with.
This isn’t public knowledge, but this week, June 13th-19th, is the internationally recognized Men’s Health Week.
This isn’t just an American problem, it’s a worldwide problem.
Men’s Health Week is recognized internationally by a multitude of countries on every continent. But the really important question is:
Do you recognize the need for your health?
As men, we’re taught to be the problem solvers, to be the strong ones, to be independent and not show any weakness. Being unhealthy sounds like weakness.
Being unhealthy is a problem, and we have two options:
Ignore it (hide our weaknesses) and put on a show that we’re fine
Man up, acknowledge it, take care of it and actually work towards being fine
Why is men’s health week important?
Because You’re a Man
You have a responsibility to care for yourself and other people
You are worth being healthy
A healthy man shows respect for himself, other people, and the world.
An unhealthy man disrespects himself, other people, and the world.
There are many ways that showing respect and disrespect happen, here are a few keys ways that you might not have thought about before:
Respect means:
Valuing: honoring your body, your mind, and your interests.
Considering what is actually beneficial and taking the action needed to give what is beneficial
Disrespecting means:
Devaluing: not caring about what happens to the body, mind, or interests
Thinking that you’re doing good enough by doing the bare minimum
What does “Healthy” mean?
Here are a few major domains of health to be intentional with.
Physical Health – what parts of your body are working well that can be strengthened, and what parts of your body are needing extra attention in order to be strengthened?
Personal example: I have celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by eating gluten. My body will slowly kill itself if I have gluten over time. It causes damage below the surface that I’m not always aware of. Now that I know this, it is disrespectful to myself to eat gluten, because my body is worth protecting.
Behavioral Health – are your actions towards yourself and others producing a healthy lifestyle?
Cognitive Health – do your thoughts feel health, or do they lead to stress, anxiety, or depression?
Emotional Health – Yes, men have emotions. You are a man, and you know this. Do we have the same type or intensity that women have emotions? Not necessarily. But your emotional health is a priority because it effects every other area of your health.
Relational Health – Do you have health relationships with others? How do you know? Would other people say that they like being around you?
Being intentional with your mental health means asking questions like these to help you direct your focus and energy towards becoming healthier.
We all have unique strengths and setbacks based on many different factors in life.
Setbacks can include things like:
Autoimmune diseases
Injuries from childhood or adulthood that linger on
Mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression
Difficulty with sexual health
Difficult relationships with parents, friends, kids, or partners
The setbacks we have do not make us less of a man. However, a good man is one who prioritizes his health in every domain. A healthy man is a man who respects himself, others, and the world in.
To learn more about men’s health, visit this article in Men’s Health Monthly to find more information, tips, and resources that will help with learning how to better take care of yourself. Health is not a destination, it’s a journey.
