Still Manly
Introspection doesn’t make you any less of a man
Author: Anisha Ray
Health has always been one of the greatest priorities of individuals. It is the engine that runs our body and our mind. Good health fuels our intellect, our physical strength, and consequently our ability to perform the required tasks that get us closer to our goals and ambitions. When I think of good health, I smell hot boiled vegetables and hearty meals, feel the cool breeze past me as I go running, hear the sound of my friends’ laughter in a carefree conversation, see my deadlines being met, and think of a sound, uninterrupted sleep.
In a society like ours, where its development and maintenance reside and depend on the income and contributions of its members, health is an essential factor. It is with the good health of men and women, that they can achieve their aspirations and eventually, contribute to the country’s betterment. The Government drafts several healthcare plans to reach out to the underprivileged sections of the society, to increase their chances at a better and healthier life. However, it is also up to us as individuals to understand our body and its needs and meet them accordingly.
As I type ahead, I think of the numerous issues I’ve seen the men in my family face, my Grandfather’s prostate operation, my father’s diabetes, and so on. As much as the health and well-being of the women in our household are discussed and worked on, I feel that it’s always Men’s health that gets overlooked and disregarded.
True story: As I was reading up articles and looking up the internet for more information that’ll help me get more perspective on this unspoken and unexplored subject, I found that nearly five websites had the same content, (word-to-word, syllable-to-syllable) as the original creator. Amusing?
As per the Cleveland Clinic overview, 65% of men will more often than not stand by to the extent that it would be possible to see their primary care physician if they have any wellbeing indications or a physical issue. What do you think could be the possible reason behind it? Could it be the societal stereotype that has taught them since young, that pain and illness are a part of toughening up, and it is not “manly” to be vulnerable or affected by their discomfort? Or is it because they think it is too “bothersome” to make the time and effort to go for regular checkups and stay in touch with their doctors regarding their health and well-being?
Among the many causes of death among men, some of the leading ones are cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, prostate cancer, depression, and suicide. Thankfully, all of the above-mentioned fatal diseases and disorders are manageable with early detection and diagnosis. But to reach that part, it is essential to accept the presence of discomfort and symptoms which need immediate medical attention. It is this existence that most men deny for too long.
I could go on and on about the several home remedies, first signs and symptoms of diseases, importance of diagnosis, and men’s health statistics; but thankfully the internet has several articles and websites which have explained the above-mentioned facts in abundance (and repetition). But that’s not what I want to talk about. I want to emphasize the very first, ground-level step towards healthcare which is acceptance and initiation.
I think one of the major issues that I have noticed with men’s healthcare, is that nobody wants to talk about it!
A man could have all his limbs chopped off and he’d still be “perfectly fine”. Men and society themselves must realize that vocalizing one’s problems doesn’t make anyone any less of a man or woman than they already are. It doesn’t minimize any amount of humanity or bravery or boldness in anyone. On the contrary, it takes a lot of “manliness” to open up and vocalize their issues to the doctors and close ones, to give heed to the concerns, and to give attention to the health vitals and well-being even if there are no visible symptoms. And when I speak about vocalizing, I don’t only mean vocalizing your concerns to a second person, but rather hearing out and tending to the signs and voices that the body and mind itself give out. Instead of suppressing the call of the body, accept it. Men must realize that their health and well-being are way more priceless and important as compared to the age-old, slowly dying out societal judgments and cliché.
Honestly, we as a society should always encourage men to speak up about their problems and issues. I’ve always had my father and my male friends regularly checking up on me and my health and well-being, and it is my wish to be able to do the same. If we take a pause and listen, with time we’ll know better. Hearing words of comfort, encouragement, and reassurance, just to boost up one’s spirit and stamina and know that it is okay to be worried about your health, to feel uncomfortable or pain; makes one feel confident and comfortable in their thoughts enough to voice them to the necessary professionals.
I was particularly intrigued by the words of the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Men’s Health, who said, “Men put their health last. Most men’s thinking is, if they can live up to their roles in society, then they’re healthy.” It is by breaking the set standards and rules in the society, that we reach out to better standards of living, don’t we? Had we continued the same practices of birth-giving as the older times, could we ensure lower child mortality and maternal death rates? Had we gone by the age-old set norms of the society, could we eradicate poverty and illiteracy at such a progressive rate? It is because we rebelled against societal norms and standards, that today we can look at the possibility of a better tomorrow.
So why should men equate their societal roles to their internal health? Health is something that is directly governed by the food we eat, the amount of exercise we do, and our mental state of mind and happiness. It is with good health that they can work better and meet their expectations in those roles.
On this International Men’s Day, how about we do something different from cards and posters on the roles men have played in our lives? It’s enough pressure to meet the expectations after all! Let us all take a moment and just do a simple gesture of asking them how they are doing. Maybe they’ll say everything’s going well, maybe they’ll open up about something that might have been bothering them or maybe, they’ll just brush it off. But after all, it is the thought that counts.
Let us encourage men to spend more time hearing themselves out, heeding to their needs before their wants. It is the start of something essential, something that’ll take time to fulfill its ultimate purpose and render desirable results. At the end of the day,
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great” — Zig Ziglar
P.S. Not a one-time annual gesture, but a lifelong regular one.
