Men’s Mental Health Challenge

[The Fat Coyote]

That's true! Soak up the outdoors while youre out there guys. Recharge if you can. Find some peace of mind for a little bit. I am pulling for you all.

 

[Cannonball]

My church is doing a series on the men we need:

 

[*zap*]

I camp out every Sunday & Wednesday. Just heading out from camp now.. Hope everyone is well.

 

[ddowning]

I missed the stuff in July about relationships. I have a different perspective than what was posted. Become the person you want in a relationship. Often, your partner will follow. Push yourself. Eat better. Exercise. Make more money. Make a bigger difference. Read the Bible.
Expect it to take an eternity for them to notice. When they show interest, start doing it together. Some people won't follow, but many will due to the trust and admiration they had for you that caused them to marry you in the first place. A lot of people will talk about changing their situation, but they want their partner to create the change. You can't push people, only bring them along. I believe it was Lombardi that said something to the effect that leading by example isn't the best way to lead, it is the only way to lead.

I have not found that most people have crazy just below the surface. I have found that our society is very good at suppressing human exeptionalism. Many of the people I thought were crazy have calmed down and improved significantly as they aged and had better examples set for them.

It is human nature to want exceptional friends/partners/relationships. Everyone else wants that too. We need to make sure that we become the person we want a relationship with.

That said, some people are just downright crazy or evil.

 

[lyle_destroys]

I missed the stuff in July about relationships. I have a different perspective than what was posted. Become the person you want in a relationship. Often, your partner will follow. Push yourself. Eat better. Exercise. Make more money. Make a bigger difference. Read the Bible.
Expect it to take an eternity for them to notice. When they show interest, start doing it together. Some people won't follow, but many will due to the trust and admiration they had for you that caused them to marry you in the first place. A lot of people will talk about changing their situation, but they want their partner to create the change. You can't push people, only bring them along. I believe it was Lombardi that said something to the effect that leading by example isn't the best way to lead, it is the only way to lead.

I have not found that most people have crazy just below the surface. I have found that our society is very good at suppressing human exeptionalism. Many of the people I thought were crazy have calmed down and improved significantly as they aged and had better examples set for them.

It is human nature to want exceptional friends/partners/relationships. Everyone else wants that too. We need to make sure that we become the person we want a relationship with.

That said, some people are just downright crazy or evil.

Your partner may follow suit if you and your relationship/family is their priority. A lot of people put other things first though. But we can all only speak from past life experiences.

 

[lyle_destroys]

I’ve been MIA for a while guys, I’m really glad to see some of the wisdom from others posted on this thread. It’s collectively all our first time living this life and it’s good to see the support. Hope you’re all making it through the day and hopefully getting some hunting in. Please reach out if you need anything, even to just unload your anonymous burdens

 

[mtnrunner260]

How are you doing Lyle?

 

[COJoe]

Last week I hiked five miles or so in for my bear hunt and a couple more miles scouting around the mountain the day before opening day. I left my pack on for about 4.5 hours straight before I stopped for lunch. That evening, the winds kicked up pretty seriously and blew until about 1 am so I didn't get much sleep. Opening day my alarm went off early but I rolled over in my tent and tried to go back to sleep. I didn't get moving that morning until after 8:30 am. That's really bad for an opening day hunt but my SI joint was off/out from the previous day's hike in. I struggle with this happening to me pretty frequently and when it goes out, it drains all my energy and drive from me and can cause depression. I laid there in my tent going over how I would give up on hunting all together because I couldn't trust my back and SI joint to hold up if I was to get an animal down and have to pack it out.

These moments come upon us in life so fast and always at inopportune times. I've had two back surgeries on my L-5 disc, so for the past two years, I've dedicated myself to getting up at 4 am three times a week for my core workouts to help deter these painful times. It cost me sleep but it has built my core to be in very good shape and allowed me to plan to do what I greatly enjoy, and that is to hunt. So, that opening morning, as I laid there in pain I had to make a choice. It wasn't a heroic one, just a choice to live with my weaknesses. I slowly stretched out what I could while in my tent, then slowly got dressed, put my boots on which is hard when you can't bend forward too well then got up and found a decent spot to stretch out more outside. Once I stretched out I felt some relief and was able to get hunting and walk around another five miles or so. The next day, I went through the same procedure and walked 8 miles. By the end of my hunt, after walking around 29 miles, I realized my SI joint didn't hurt anymore and I didn't notice any limitations in bending over. I thank God for the strength to continue when I didn't think I could.

The mental health challenge for me was not allowing the pain depression to dictate to me how I was going to live my life. I realize that I may not be able to continue hunting the way I do in the future but I can adjust and find ways I can hunt. On day three of my hunt, I sat at about 10,000 feet in the meadow where I shot my first elk a couple years ago with my buddy and it was a victory and blessed time for me. Chronic pain can cause depression to set in pretty quickly. I want to encourage anyone who suffers with back or other pain issues, to put yourselves around people who can encourage you and walk with you through your pain. My hunting buddy lives in another state, but he is always encouraging me when I state my limitations. Next month we will enjoy our time together in our 4th season elk hunt. I won't quit on him and I know he won't quit on me. Good luck out there you all and stay strong by working with and through your weaknesses.

 

[*zap*]

Lack of commitment to staying fit will limit you as you age.
Just do it.