06/17/2026
It’s Men’s Mental Health Month, and I’ve been reflecting on something lately.
For a long time, I thought my struggle was that people didn’t understand me. The truth is, there were people who cared. There were people who asked how I was doing. The problem was that I often kept things to myself. I thought I had to figure everything out on my own.
Over the years, therapy, men’s groups, difficult conversations, recovery work, and even leading hikes have helped me work through a lot of limiting beliefs and learn how to be more honest about what I’m feeling.
Yesterday reminded me of something I’ve been missing for a long time.
I had a conversation with a friend about sound, lighting, events, and life. Nothing profound. Just a genuine conversation with someone who was fully present and interested. Later that evening, one of my brothers from Warriors Council called and asked me a question I’ve never forgotten:
“How’s your heart?”
Not “How are you?” but “How’s your heart?”
We ended up talking for over an hour.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that when I ask people how they’re doing, it’s not because I have the answers. It’s because I know what it’s like to carry something by yourself. Sometimes people don’t need advice. Sometimes they just need someone willing to listen.
It’s easy to get caught up in our own lives. But every once in a while, taking a moment to check in on someone and actually listen can mean more than we realize.
And if someone asks you how you’re doing, maybe consider answering honestly.
You might be surprised by how much lighter things feel when you don’t carry everything alone.
