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Abstract

ace with depression. I’ve never felt this way before.I’m not sure if I was in denial in the past. Perhaps I was embarrassed and never really got honest? Events in my personal life triggered something inside me and pushed this depression shit to another level. Or maybe, it was always there. Maybe, I was just really good at hiding it?<h1 id="8e4f">REAL MEN DON’T CRY (or get depressed)</h1>Men are not supposed to be depressed. Men are not supposed to be anxious. We should just get shit figured out and move on to the next task. Suck it up.No one ever sat me down and said that directly to me. But, it was burned into my conscience. It was much easier for me to admit my addiction than it was to admit my depression. Real men get addicted. Real men don’t get depressed.I was definitely ashamed and the stigma kicked my ass.But recently I’ve come to a new place. Honestly, I do not give a f**k what people think about me.I am going to be open and

Options

I’m not hiding anymore. I’m going to make decisions that benefit my mental health. I’m going to work smarter. I’m going to take steps to reduce stress.I have been addicted to busyness. I took pride in this insatiable ambition that drove me to start and run 3 businesses simultaneously. My life has been relatively unmanageable. I have been chasing recognition and material pursuits.I’m not going to quit my job or any of that non-sense. I am not going to live a life of poverty to prove a point. I am not going to live in a van down by the river. But I am going to change my approach. Work smarter and get off the hamster wheel.I need to minimize and adopt a simple lifestyle. And prioritize relationships over accomplishment. Prioritize my mental health.53 will be a year of liberation. I intend to share the journey. There are other men (and women) out there who are tired of the “suck it up” message.I cry.Happy new year!</article></body>

Big Boys Don’t Cry

I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions.

It makes more sense to mark time in terms of “birth year” rather than calendar year. I prefer to “start over” at the beginning of each new “birth year” rather than the beginning of each new year.

At the end of the year we reflect on the past year. We make new year’s resolutions. We have this sense of starting over.

For me, that happens on my birthday.

July 25, 2021 marked my 53rd year on the planet.

This past year has been the most difficult year of my life. My 52nd year on the planet was brutal. I have come face to face with depression. I’ve never felt this way before.

I’m not sure if I was in denial in the past. Perhaps I was embarrassed and never really got honest? Events in my personal life triggered something inside me and pushed this depression shit to another level. Or maybe, it was always there. Maybe, I was just really good at hiding it?

REAL MEN DON’T CRY (or get depressed)

Men are not supposed to be depressed. Men are not supposed to be anxious. We should just get shit figured out and move on to the next task. Suck it up.

No one ever sat me down and said that directly to me. But, it was burned into my conscience. It was much easier for me to admit my addiction than it was to admit my depression. Real men get addicted. Real men don’t get depressed.

I was definitely ashamed and the stigma kicked my ass.

But recently I’ve come to a new place. Honestly, I do not give a f**k what people think about me.

I am going to be open and I’m not hiding anymore. I’m going to make decisions that benefit my mental health. I’m going to work smarter. I’m going to take steps to reduce stress.

I have been addicted to busyness. I took pride in this insatiable ambition that drove me to start and run 3 businesses simultaneously. My life has been relatively unmanageable. I have been chasing recognition and material pursuits.

I’m not going to quit my job or any of that non-sense. I am not going to live a life of poverty to prove a point. I am not going to live in a van down by the river. But I am going to change my approach. Work smarter and get off the hamster wheel.

I need to minimize and adopt a simple lifestyle. And prioritize relationships over accomplishment. Prioritize my mental health.

53 will be a year of liberation. I intend to share the journey. There are other men (and women) out there who are tired of the “suck it up” message.

I cry.

Happy new year!