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July
Have fun, Live longer
You know, having fun has never been a problem for
me. Give me a piece of string and a stick and I can
entertain myself for hours. Now that I live in the
modern age of wide screen televisions, broadband
connections and computer gaming, I have to work
really hard at being bored. Ironically, it is all
the high tech gadgets and gizmos at my disposal
that are directly contributing to my demise. Why,
you may ask are these modern conveniences
contributing to all our demises? Well, for one
thing they are just that, convenient. One
doesn’t have to DO much of anything to be
entertained. For another, during this uninvolved
entertainment one is more than likely sitting and
probably mindlessly munching and or drinking
something that is not good for the body.
I recently watched a commercial for a popular
beverage that shows a guy taking “baby
steps” to try to improve his health. You see
the guy sitting in a recliner. Then in a pathetic
attempt to show his new interest in physical
fitness he lowers his footrest and keeps his legs
out for about three seconds then breathlessly puts
the footrest back up and sinks into the chair in
exhaustion. The part that made me take notice was
that nagging voice in my head saying “geez,
that’s me!”. This recognition was quickly
followed by the equally disturbing question
“when was the last time I took a walk or
heaven forbid, worked out?” Funny how my
clothes have been tight lately, must be leaving
them in the dryer too long. The fact is, I have
been gaining weight and that is not good for my
health. We are in a country that is increasingly
growing larger around the middle and it is time we
just plain stopped it. Getting off our collective
butts and going out and having some fun is the
solution. Men tend to be less on the out and about
track and more on the in and relaxing track. What
we have to do is change our behavior, one step at a
time.
For the most part, no one likes change. It is
not easy to go against what the habit has been.
Guys tend to avoid change like the plague because
it takes us out of our comfort zone. But like any
journey the one to better health, both physically
and emotionally, starts with a single step. To that
end I am going to make a suggestion to all of you
that you decide here and now that you will take
better care of yourself and your health and that
you start to do this by taking one small step. Not
the type of small step our friend in the commercial
took, but a sincere step toward a better lifestyle.
Now, being a man I understand that the whole
motivation thing is a problem. I’m lucky, my
motivation for most things comes in the form of my
wife Char and her trusty 2x4 to the back of my
head. She claims I can be a bit stubborn and
resistant to change. She also is one smart cookie
and when her efforts at being nice fail, she
resorts to dirty tactics and pulls out that whole
“reality” thing. She has this way of
hitting me right between the eyes with “the
facts”. Like the fact that most men live an
average of 7 years less than their wives. The fact
that most men die of diseases or complications that
were almost entirely within their power to change
with a little effort. The fact that taking two 15
minute breaks a day and walking around the block,
office building or parking lot adds up to a 30
minute heart healthy aerobic workout, no added
calories from the vending machine, a reduced stress
level and a clearer head for the rest of the work
day. And the one I find most applicable to the Hard
Hat Brotherhood, the fact that we are hardwired
from our days as cavemen to be part of a
“tribe” and that doing so in this modern
age means our survival and well being just as much
as it did a million or so years ago. True, we no
longer have to worry about being eaten or stepped
on by a dinosaur, but we do have to worry about the
stress of our jobs, our family dramas, our own bad
eating habits, social isolation and sedentary
lifestyle killing us just as fast.
Did you know that according to many doctors an
isolated lifestyle for men in particular is just
plain not healthy? This also goes back to the
earliest times of man. If you wanted to survive you
did it as a group. Everyone relied on everyone
else. Some kept watch while others slept or ate.
Some hunted while others guarded the homestead. The
loners withered and died while the clan who played
together and stayed together ultimately survived.
Same thing in the here and now, we are happiest
when we share our lives and with others. Today many
doctors recommend that guys join a men’s group
purely for the health benefits. As much as men feel
they don’t need anybody else we are social
creatures and it is that communication with each
other that helps keep us whole. I see it many times
when I meet a new member. Many of them have no real
friends. Usually it is only the people they work
with and maybe have a drink with on the way home.
But there is no real friendship or fellowship. For
many busy men their closest friend is their wife.
This is usually a matter of convenience since they
live in the same place. I am not knocking this
arrangement and indeed I would be lying if I said
my wife was not my best friend and most trusted
ally. But face it guys, the women are different
than us. If you don’t believe me just ask your
wife or significant other her definition of “a
relationship”. I promise you, it is much
different than your definition. Not better or
worse, just different. Women being different is a
good thing for both them and us. It is that whole
balance thing. Think about it, would you want to be
married to or with someone who was only the female
version of you? For most of us that would give new
meaning to the term “identity
crisis”.
The fact of the matter is men need other men as
friends. All creatures need their own kind to
relate to. That is how I ended up with two neurotic
cats. My wife said having just one wasn’t good
because he would have no one to be friends with or
to relate to. So we got two and I must admit, they
are best friends and do have a version of hanging
out that is exclusive to them. If even cats need
this dimension of being with their own kind then
admitting that we need it is not so hard. True
friendship is the key. I am talking about the kind
of friends you turn to when you need someone to
understand what it is like to be a guy, a father, a
husband or a grandfather. Someone who understands
the special stresses felt at different stages in a
man’s life. Someone of your own kind who can
relate and speak your same language. Face it guys,
we need each other. And in this time of national
security crisis, war and natural disasters having a
friend to hang out with or call up is the least
expensive most rewarding thing you can do for your
mental health. A friend to take a walk with or go
hunting, bowling or play tennis with and you have
improved your physical health. A friend to laugh
with….well, you have hit the fountain of
youth.
The Hard Hat Brotherhood is here to offer all
men the opportunity to enlarge their circle of
friends in a painless, easy to use, inexpensive and
fun filled manner. One small step guys. That is how
you start. Take that step today and join a crew or
start your own. Bring a new guy to your next event.
Tell someone about us. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong
- one small step for you, one giant step toward
having fun, better health and longer life!
©2007, Andy Smith
* * *
Source:
Andy Smith, HHBrotherhood Central, 8449 Parkridge
Drive, Dexter, MI 48130, or 734.846.2283 or
www.hardhatbrotherhood.com
or headhardhat@hardhatbrotherhood.com
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