Men's December Homework!
So after spending some time on here, I noticed several of the communities have various check in's and seeing how everyone is doing this month. And then I look at us. There isn't much updates here so I'm going to try.
It's tough putting ourselves out there, so Today's challenge is simple.
Check in a friend, a simple text will do. It can be as simple as "Hey hows everything going", "You doing alright?", "Whats new buddy". Often enough we give typical responses like "living the dream", or "I'm doing", this is fine but start the conversation.
Ask a buddy out for a beer, or a board game night. offer to come by on the weekend and help with a chore or watch a game. Every one of us is different and sometimes just checking in is all that matters, maybe we dont need to get deep and ask how things are going, maybe we just got to ask whats the latest thing they are tossing on the BBQ this weekend.
But we gotta look after each other. I'll keep trying to post these daily but feel free for anyone to jump in with your own.
@gentleStrings95
I think it's great to have a space for men to be honest, fair play for organizing it 🥰
Hey @gentleStrings95 … Thank you so much for getting something started in here!
I’ll give this a go. My buddy Dave has been trying to reach me, but I’ve been dealing with a medical issue for the past few weeks, and he doesn’t schedule a time for us to connect which would make it a lot easier for me. But I get it, he’s a business owner, so his schedule can be all over the place (which is also why I lose steam in trying to reach out to him). We’ve known each other since high school, and I love him like a brother, so I’ll give it some extra tries this weekend.
(I just got back on 7Cups after a bit of an absence. Are there supposed to be daily or weekly assignments? I noticed the last post was Monday 12/1. How long should we give this, before adjusting or changing the topic/assignment?)
Again, grateful for the initiative @gentleStrings95 … and the encouragement @Amanda84 !!!
@FaithfulScout
🥰
@FaithfulScout i'm glad that this has reached at least once person, ive been having a rough time since this post and glad some good came from this.
Awww, thanks, @Amanda84 🤸♂️
And just to follow up, I gave my friend Dave a call last night—and he happened to be home!
So we had an awesome catch-up talk!
What’s next?
(Any guys wanna introduce himself? Maybe name a burden you might be carrying around so this group can help “lighten” the load?)
-= Next Challenge =-
Ok, time for the next challenge; lets give each challenge a week.
Find Running Water!
This may be difficult as i dont know where everyone lives and its December. But find water, river, lake, damn anything. Give yourself one hour. no social media, enjoy the silence, enjoy the nature that is your unique city.
There have been some studies that the sight of water can reduce your stress; the idea being is we are still just cavemen and the sight of running water causes us to relax because its a basic survival need covered. And it feels like some days we are just in survival mode going from one thing to another.
There have been a few articles that talk about this study but i chose to belive it because every time i have spent time around water, i have always been more relaxed.
Its also a good time to just be alone with your thoughts, self reflect. Draw or do watercolor while there, do something that is uniquely you.
If able post a picture of your water location
@gentleStrings95 I rediscovered a fondness for fishing a while ago so I spread a lot of time near water in some form or another.
This is from about a month ago. It's all cold and freezing over now
This is an awesome idea Strings :)
@mytwistedsoul
Beautiful scene 🥰
@mytwistedsoul
That's great that you are going back to fishing. I look back as i've aged over the years and felt like I got into situations where i just too busy being a dad, husband, employee or whatever that the things i loved doing just fell to the side. Its important to go back and reconnect with hobbies.
@gentleStrings95 I hope you get a chance to get back to the hobbies you enjoyed doing. I think sometimes we get so busy with work and family that we forget to take time for ourselves. I've been trying to do this more
This is my water for the challenge; it took a while to get as its been a busy week and ive ben neglecting me.
Sorry guys, it’s the best I could do. I was freezing outside, have limited mobility, and my camera is kinda old and not too high quality. I hope you all had a better time than I did … but I am glad I participated!
Thank you ... @gentleStrings95 !!
Thats amazing! You overcame a lot !
I'm glad you did it, and I hope you are too.
@FaithfulScout Looks pretty good to me Scout! Omgosh it's so cold out right now 🥶 I am not a fan of winter that's for sure!
-= Challenge 3 =-
I hope people are getting stuff out of this; i hope to see more people focus on men's mental health.
This weeks challenge is also going to be odd, but as soon as you can after waking up go outside. I know its winter and its cold, and it may be hard. Ive been doing this for some time and find that the days in which i do this i have more energy and more willpower to get through the day.
The idea here is similar to that of the water one, we are still just cavemen and the cold air, and outdoor air on our face wakes us up better than any coffee could. I mean make a coffee and sit outside as well, but no phone, no social media.
Just be you outside for 5-10 minutes before starting the day, think about your to do list, listen to the sounds of your street, your apartment building, your life. Be present in the moment. Sit with your dog if you have one, smoke if that's your thing (though I dont recommend it)
This isnt about the ice bath, alpah male who-rah (each to their own). This is just about being, breaking your normal routine, and taking a moment so there is nothing but you.
There is no need to check in online with this challenge, as the checking in you are doing is with yourself.
Thanks for the challenge … I can see how this could be a way to engage with the new day 🌞
I’m all for it! That’s why I’m here on 7cups as the first thing I do today … to share a little more about myself. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer almost 2 years ago, therefore instead of connecting with you all in the outdoor landscape at this moment, I’ll forge ahead in the digital landscape hoping to reach each of you and add a little extra light and motivation to the start of your day’s journey ☺️
@gentleStrings95
Okay, this is just annoying. I’m sure there are men who have already tried that and either got no response or didn’t receive the same energy in return. People don’t treat them the same way for those that do that, so at that point, why even bother? I feel like you telling us this is very misleading.
@TerryTHEwonderer
That's fair; im just shooting ideas here and trying. Im not a therapist; i dont claim to be. Im just a man struggling as well and i come on here and i see nothing in the men's group on 7cups, we arnt helping one another. the community is basically empty
I'm just trying; and yeah i know we have all seen this 100 times over, go outside, walk, be kind to others. fake it until you make it. and 1000 other inspirational quote we've all seen a hundred times over.
im just trying to help myself, and if i can help just 1 other person then yeah im going to post this junk. we arn't going to stop other people from being jerks.
i'm just trying to be the change i want to see in the world Terry, i can't fix your problems or your issues; but i can listen, and i can try and help.