Celebrating International Men’s Day 2012

“Helping Men and Boys Live long, Happier and Healthier Lives”

By Terry Orr

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This theme above simply was not something in my younger years considered.  Instead, focus and priorities were duty, God, country and taking care of your family – in that order. Role models were a figment of one’s imagination – you simply considered the facts and made your best decision based upon them.

Family time was mandatory in our home. We all sat down to supper as a family – the kids cleaned up afterwards and did homework. At 7 PM (central time) we sat around in the family room and watch two hours of ‘family TV’ programs – Walt Disney; Ed Sullivan Show,; I Love Lucy; Danny Thomas Show, Andy Griffith Show; Red Skelton Hour; Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet; Beverly Hillbillies; Dick Van Dyke; Donna Reed and My Three Sons; Bob Hope; Jackie Gleason and Gunsmoke rounded our weekly entertainment.  Sunday morning was Church – all hands participated without question.

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Today – we need to take better care of ourselves, find balance and provide our children and families better role models and be activity involved in their total development.  This will help enable men to be happier, healthier and have a more rewarding and longer life.

Goals:

• Improving male life expectancy;
• Helping men get help;
• Improving boy’s education;
• Tackling tolerance of violence against men and boys; and
• Promoting fathers and positive male role models.

The objectives of celebrating an International Men's Day include focusing on:

• Men’s and boys' health;
• Improving gender relations;
• Promoting gender equality; and
• Highlighting positive male role models.

It is an occasion to highlight discrimination against men and boys and to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care. The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to promote basic humanitarian values. (Source: Wikipedia)

From my perspective, today is about focusing on all men being Positive Male Role Models – setting the example for all young people to follow.

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References and Links:

• http://www.internationalmensday.com/
• http://www.mensday.ws/en/theme.php
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Men's_Day
• https://sites.google.com/a/imd-global.org/international-mens-day/

World Menopause Month

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Nurse Diane

Almost every afternoon I got to visit my father and sit in his workshop and watch television.  Lately it’s been very cool in the northern states, but here in the south, a cool spell starts at 75 degrees.  Last week I show up at my father's wearing my usual attire of shorts, when it seems really warm in his shop.  He had just installed an air condition unit, so I know that was working ok.  As I sat down in my normal seat, it hit me.  There was a heater on right in front of me!!!  I asked my father if he was cold …and he said I get hot, then cold, and back and forth...so I told him he must be going through the change.

The change I was referring to is of course Menopause.  This causes me to wonder why all women's problems begin with MEN...menopause, menstruation, and mental illness.

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Menopause can lead to a variety of age-related diseases including heart disease and osteoporosis. Moreover, symptoms of menopause can have a truly negative impact on the quality of daily life. By tightening our reigns on these issues, we can keep them in check so we can continue living strong, meaningful and long lives. For World Menopause Month, learn what the biggest threats to your health are at menopause and ways to prevent them according to redhotmamas.org.

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It’s a woman’s world these days and we are fortunate to be living in a time where we no longer have to suffer from menopause in silence and alone. The old, negative, hushed attitudes of menopause have been thrown to the wayside. We are no longer are fed the line, “it’s all in your head”. Through public awareness and modern research, menopause symptoms are taken seriously and considered very real. Advanced and innovative treatments are now available that provide us with the quality healthcare we need to control symptoms and conditions related to menopause.

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Armed with knowledge from friends, family, menopause support groups like Red Hot Mamas and your healthcare provider, you can tackle the uneasiness of the transition.

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International Men's Day

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By Akindman

GIVING BOYS THE BEST POSSIBLE START IN LIFE: 2011 INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY

International Men’s Day is annually held on November 19 to improve gender relations and promote unity.

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International Men’s Day is a time for many people to reflect on the contributions, sacrifices and progress made by men in society. Such progress includes that of men working together with women to make educational, economic, social, and technological advances in society. Topics that may be discussed or showcased through various media, activities and events on the day may include:

• Men’s and boys’ health;
• The importance of gender equality;
• Improvements towards gender relations in all societies;
• Positive male role models for younger generations;
• Men’s roles in community, family, relationships and childcare; and
• Healing and forgiveness.

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Meetings, workshops or group gatherings may also be held on this day to focus on overcoming challenges such as domestic violence and drug abuse. International Men’s Day is supported by various organizations worldwide, including the United Nations (UN) and the Men's Network.

The good news is that together we can make a difference. They five key challenges that the International Men’s Day team suggest for focusing the collective minds of people who want to take action and give boys the best possible start in life are:

1. HEALTH AND LIFE EXPECTANCY: Why are boys around the world more likely to die before the age of five and why do boys in every continent look forward to a much shorter life than girls? What are the reasons for boy’s higher likelihood of suicide? What action can we take to give boys the best possible start in life and help them live longer, happier, healthier lives?
2. EDUCATIONAL FOCUS: Why are boys in richer countries underperforming girls and also less likely to be in education, and why are tens of millions of boys in poorer countries still not completing a primary education? How can we address truancy, and poor literacy rates which leave boys prone to adult unemployment, substance abuse, obesity, depression, and poverty? What action can we take to focus on boys’ education in a way that gives them the best possible start in life and closes the gaps between girls and boys and rich boys and poor boys?
3. TOLERANCE OF VIOLENCE: Why are we so tolerant of violence and abuse against men and boys and why do we still tolerate a world where we send boys to fight the wars among adults? What actions can we take to help boys’ grow up free from violence and challenge our collective tolerance and support of violence against men and boys?
4. RIGHTS TO FATHERHOOD: How can we give boys a right to family life that gives them an equal opportunity to know and experience both their father and mother and ensure that their role as a future father is equal to a girls role as future mother. What actions can we take to give every boy an equal right to fatherhood?
5. REAL LIFE CHOICES: How can we make sure that every boy has opportunities to make a range of positive life choices in terms of work, family and leisure and reduce the number of boys whose life choices are limited and end up poor, illiterate, unemployed, homeless, imprisoned and isolated? What action can we make to help every boy get the best possible start in life and make a positive transition from boy to man that makes the world a better place for everyone?

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To help respond to these challenges, the International Men’s Day team are inviting any government, organization, community or individual that wants to give boys the best possible start in life to take part in the biggest boys’ weekend ever on International Men’s Day (Saturday 19th November 2011) and Universal Children’s Day (Sunday 20th November 2011). If you have an idea for an event or a project that can help respond to one of the five challenges to give boys the best possible in start in life we encourage you to highlight it as part of International Men’s Day celebrations for 2011.

The inaugural International Men’s Day was held in Trinidad and Tobago on November 19 in 1999. Representatives from organizations such as the UN expressed support for the event, although it is not an official UN observance. A petition has called for the UN to make International Men’s Day an official UN observance in the interest of equality.

International Women’s Day is also celebrated on March 8 each year.

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June is Men's Health Month

The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

This month gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with hundreds of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe.

Like most things in life, there is not one method that works for everyone.  I have done like most folks over the years, trying this and that to get a more balanced lifestyle and healthier me.  Some things have worked in the short and intermediate time frame – I have just not found the right answer for the long term to date.  I know the right answer and solution to my problem.  Now I must make that all important decision to set my objectives, goals, get the right folks to help me and ‘make it happen.’

Below are some interesting likes to Web and Blog Sites that contain good sources of information and additional links.

My Google search listed the following top web/blog sites:

• Men’s Health Magazine (www.menshealth.com)
• Fitness Tips, Exercises, Workout Plans (www.menshealth.com/fitness)
• WebMD Men’s Health Center (www.men.webme.com)
• Men’s Health: MedlinePlus (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menshealth.html
• CDC – Men’s Health – Home (www.cdc.gov/men)
• Mens Health (www.medicnenet.com/mens_health/focus.htm
• Men’s Health Network (www.nenshealthnetwork.org)

These blogs touch on a number of men’s health issues and offer the latest news. (from Nursing Schools Net http://www.nursingschools.net/blog/2010/04/100-best-mens-health-fitness-blogs/)

• About.com Men’s Health Blog: Visit this site for a look at the latest issues, controversies and news in men’s health. http://menshealth.about.com/
• MH Life: Peter Moore, Men’s Health Magazine’s editor, maintains this blog full of articles on a wide range of health and lifestyle issues for men. http://blogs.menshealth.com/mh-life/
• Just a Guy Thing: This site isn’t solely health-focused. Men will find tips on dating, entertainment, tech, life as well as health on this blog. http://www.justaguything.com/
• Men’s Health Blog: From dealing with wrinkles to getting more muscle mass, this blog covers a wide range of health issues. http://menshealthblogs.info/
• Web MD Men’s Health: Read through the articles here to find not only expert advice but to learn about potential health risks you might not be aware of. http://men.webmd.com/news-features
• MaleHealth: This website is a great place to find health information for men, and the editor maintains this informative blog as well. http://malehealtheditor.blogspot.com/
• Insure Blog: What will your insurance cover? Can you afford it? This blog offers news and answers on everything health-insurance related. http://insureblog.blogspot.com/
• WSJ Health Blog: Here you’ll find articles that address important health concerns for both men and women. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/
• Respectful Insolence: This blogger will help you cut through all the myths and lies about health out there. http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/
• Mark’s Daily Apple: Men can learn to get more in touch with their primal sides with help from this blog. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

Other categories on this site are:

• Eating Right
• Wright Loss
• General Fitness
• Strength Training
• Sexual Health
• Disease and Illness
• Mental Health
• Aging
• Looking Good and Living Well

Men’s Health Blogs (http://blogs.menshealth.com/)