September is prostate cancer awareness month. What many may not know about prostate cancer is that it is the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in men, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, after lung cancer.
It is frightening when you think about how significant those facts are. Even more frightening is the knowledge that prostate cancer is not given nearly the magnitude of exposure promotionally as other forms of cancer.
If you think about it, October is a sea of pink as we recognize breast cancer awareness month usually in September most people are focused on back to school.
Some have even made the argument that men don’t get much attention at all when it comes to them on their special day (Father’s Day) their health, or their physical, social and or emotional needs.
Wouldn’t be interesting to see what they think about things like friendship, love, health? What about asking them some basic emotionally probing questions that shows your interested in how they fell about things.
I found some brothers who agreed to let me ask them some probing question.
I asked them all the following questions.
What is your love language?
What is your proudest accomplishment?
If you we're blessed to have coffee and convo with any person living or not, who would it be? Why?
What does true friendship mean to you?
What does love feel like to you?
How important is it for men to take care of themselves? (physically/ mentally)
I received and interesting array of answers. Feel free to ask the men in your life these questions too. You just may be surprised by their answers. Make sure you ask them how important health is to them and then remind them that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Tim McFalls-August Ga. What is your love language? If you are referring to the themes from the Gary Chapman book, “The Five Love Languages”, I believe I am a combination of all five. Here are the five primary love languages that people speak according to Chapman. 1. Words of affirmation, 2. Quality time,3. Physical touch, 4. Acts of service, 5. Receiving gifts. The overriding influence on my relationships, be they amorous or not, is my desire to do “Acts of service”. My Dad is a great example. Seeing my Father as a missionary, literally give a man the shirt off his own back had an impact on me and created the drive to serve others more than myself. Having not always being perfect in this, my actions have hurt people in my life. Resolving these regrets was not easy but allows me to press ahead hoping to live my life in a way that does not cause pain. The best answer to that is to “Serve” others more than yourself and strive to avoid the spotlight while finding ways of shinning it on others. What is your proudest accomplishment? That my Family holds me in high regard despite my faults. If you we're blessed to have coffee and convo with any person living or not, who would it be? Why If blessed to do so, I would sit and have a cup of tea with my Mom who passed in November of 2020 during the restricted visitation rules of COVID-19. She passed from complications of Breast Cancer and we were not able to see or speak with her during her last days before her home going. She would sit in her favorite chair at her dining room table and watch us enjoy holidays and special occasions and would always “Pick” one lucky member of the family to “sit” with her at the table as she would share some beautiful piece of her life. I would do anything to have a moment like that with Her again. What does true friendship mean to you? Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. “I want to be that friend, and that is what true friendship means to me. What does love feel like to you. Love feels like the elements all combined to me. True love is Grounded (Earth), Adaptable and Fluid (Water), Passionate (Fire), Refreshing (Air) and Free (Space) How important is it for men to take care of themselves? Let me start by reminding your Blog readers, that “Health Care” is expensive and not readily available to everyone. Also, that historically, men that look like me have been mistreated by the medical profession. In “The Tuskegee Syphilis Study” (1932), Black men were given to believe they were being “treated” for their condition, were in fact being purposefully “denied” treatment, is just one example. Less we fall into the misconception that this was ancient history, The Tuskegee Syphilis study ended in 1972! Another example is story of “Henrietta Lacks” a black woman who’s unique cells have been used for countless medical advances, yet done without her consent or that of her family. I urge your readers to read the Book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”. It is a non-fiction book by American author Rebecca Skloot. So, since we have sacrificed so much and our sacrifices have increased the knowledge base of medicine across the globe and through the years, why not take advantage of that sacrifice and reap the benefits. Still, let’s give a bit of deference to my brothers. We must each come to realize the hard fact that Blacks are 25% more likely to die from chronic disease than whites according to data and numerous articles available to anyone willing to research. Therefore, we must move beyond the past infractions of man’s inhumanity to man and stress the importance of seeing a physician you trust. It can be the difference between dying at 58 rather than 85. Brothers be here for your family. Be an example to your children and show them that medical check-ups and Dental hygiene. Photo: Tim McFalls
George Sneed- Augusta Ga What is your love language? Smiles. Smiles tell it all. What is your proudest accomplishment? Raising my children. If you we're blessed to have coffee and convo with any person living or not, who would it be? Why? Barack & Michelle Obama What does true friendship mean to you? Trust. What does love feel like to you? It feels like I can let my guard down. Like a ray of sunshine or a cool breeze. We have each other's backs. How important is it for men to take care of themselves? (physically/ mentally) Very. Somebody out there is depending on us to be alive and healthy. Photo: George Sneed
Lenier Kenner -Atlanta Ga. What is your love language? My love language might be WORDS OF AFFIRMATION. Communication is major too me; I love hearing good things about me from my woman. I also love telling her how amazing she is. What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment would be becoming a father. If you we're blessed to have coffee and convo with any person living or not, who would it be? Why? My grandparents. So much wisdom, and knowledge. I got the best education from my grandfather. What does true friendship mean to you? Someone you can talk to everyday. Knowing that an individual has your best interests at heart. What does love feel like to you? It's like being in your own world. Heaven on earth. You have to be careful, take care of her heart. How important is it for men to take care of themselves? (physically/ mentally) Absolutely important. You have to be right for your family. I like to look good, so I have to do whatever it takes. Photo: Lenier Kenner