Welcome November and MOvember! Yes, MOvember in which marks a celebrated time for us men to show off our hipster look! All in raising awareness for prostate cancer and men's health. MOvember has raised over $850 million dollars and $175 million dollars has come from our neighbors in Canada.
So why do men avoid the conversation of their emotional and physical health?
Top on the list according to a few surveys is a fear of acceptance in the areas we are lacking nourishment of health and well-being. A fear that something might actually be wrong and especially in being uncomfortable with certain physical exams such as prostate checks.
I can recall a year ago in waiting at a local medical exam facility and witnessing an outpatient coordinate with precision a last minute phone call as if a fire drill had occurred and needed to suddenly with medical emergency re-schedule his prostate exam.
A number of excuses in making self-care a priority include. "I don't have a doctor(the first step towards health is checking your insurance listings or ask for a referral), "My insurance won't cover it(call your insurance company), "I'm fine(don't use google to diagnose what your body might be trying to tell you), "I don't want to spend out of pocket it's a waste of money(if you think spending time on health is expensive, try spending time at the hospital), "Seeing a physician or health and wellness practitioner doesn't do anything(when you need your teeth cleaned you see a dentist, when you need a haircut you see a barber or stylist so when it comes to maximizing the body's healing potential a mix of conventional and integrative approach seems like a positive direction), "I will just tough it out(this was instilled to us early on in sports but even a professional athlete has to look at what's best for the long-term)."
Men tend to have that dangerous "men don't cry" bravado "what I don't know won't kill me" approach to health and well-being which is all but true in even further jeopardizing men's health. This is a huge strain on our health care system that men in particular have a limiting approach to health and well-being.
I get it, men can spend hours watching a ball game and debating the outcome of the game. And even more time planning a boy's trip to Vegas!
But dare request an hour check-up with their physician and then meeting with a Health Coach regularly between doctor visit's to discuss wellness goals?
Men, I'm here to tell you that this is all inexcusable and we need to make our health more of a priority and that's what MOvember is all about. Are you still with me fellas?
We'll take the time to maintain and maximize our cars performance, but we often won't take the same in ourselves emotionally and physically.
On average, men live fewer years than woman and also more likely to die from 9 of the top 10 deaths which include heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.
Yes, women are much more proactive and open to Q & A than men about their personal health and well-being. The complacency in men is a premature celebration of a few studies indicating the life expectancy in men having improved but misinforming that far too many men are actually experiencing a compromised quality of life and not truly living.
Maximizing your health and changing your quality of life starts with changing your perspective on wellness. Making a lifestyle change can be a lonely road and one of the most difficult things to do. But I've seen it done, and continue to learn from those who I have helped achieve optimal wellness.
What changed my perspective on life?
At a very young age, I struggled in watching my granddad who I loved dearly grapple with his health both emotionally and physically after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
Granddad was stubborn in spending the majority of his fifty young years sabotaging his health with the overuse of tobacco, alcohol, stress and over consumption of all that is considered comforting food.
And even believed listening and talking to someone about his health would kill him first before the truths of what he did not want to hear.
The experience that would change my life forever would be in having to watch helplessly my granddad collapse from a massive seizure. And than like the final round of a championship bout, arise bloodied but not counted out from what we all assumed was the end.
And as he stumbled back to his favorite recliner, he slowly looked around at his training corner of I and my parents who were still in shock. Then shook it off and took a shot of his favorite scotch and while still hands trembling he was able to muster a request of a light to his cigarette.
So what's the eye test and moral of this story?
Hey my fellow men from the US and abroad I see you! It's time for us to step it up for ourselves and take accountability for becoming the healthiest version of ourselves.
I've made a commitment to myself in helping others nourish emotionally, physically and soulfully. I'm asking here and now for you to do your part in making self-care a priority.
OK, have you ever been told that there are no good reasons for seeing your doctor and talking to someone regularly about your health and well-being? If so, these are only more excuses.
So bring it with your beard and moustache growing this MOvember and let the adventure begin! And I ask you what are you going to for yourself this week, this month, starting today?
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