Marcel

In May for Men’s Mental Health Month, I'm hosting a story-telling night for our men's group, Men in the Arena. It was inspired by seeing how our group has grown since May 5th, 2023. For nearly two years, we’ve been meeting every other Friday for workouts at 4 pm. A way to kick off the weekend with a healthy happy hour. Each session is led by a new member sharing a story/theme for the workout, then guiding us through workout. At the end, we circle up for open-ended discussions sparked from that original story. At the end of our workouts, the feedback we hear most often is: “That just changed my entire week.” Men leave these workouts feeling energized, lighter, and more connected. It’s a chance to shake off stress and set foot into the weekend feeling alive; allowing self-expression to flow more freely. Why does this work? Why does our group keep growing - even beyond what's visible and due to social media? ---- For many men, action is how we process emotion. We don’t always have the words, but we carry the weight. And when that weight becomes physical, whether it’s a sandbag on your shoulders or miles on the trail, it gives us an outlet. It lets us move the things we can’t always say. We’re wired for resistance. We want to push against something. And sometimes, the act of struggling with something physical helps us metabolize what’s happening internally. Over time, through that consistent movement and effort, we created space: •To move through what we’re carrying •To process without needing to explain •To be witnessed, without having to perform And most importantly: to do it together ---- Now, we’re taking that same spirit, but bringing it from the body into the story. Because some stories need more space than a post-workout circle. Some experiences deserve the mic, the spotlight, the silence of a room or small group listening. This is that night. ---- If this resonates with you, check out the event invite: partiful.com/e/riZDM8PJvDmoL…