Why I Mo
I first got involved with Movember back in summer of 2019. I was on a summer lacrosse team in New York, I didn’t know anybody on it, but one of the guys was Cole – the co-founder of Team Macho Macho, so he introduced me to the organization and the mission.
Hearing the statistics around men’s mental health and suicide really caught my attention. I’m a glass half full type of person and think this is a great life that we have. And it’s filled with even better people in it. So, if everything we’re doing through Movember can help even one person, it’s totally worth it.
The response to the Mo
For my Movember campaign, I do a 40-day countdown. It gives me 40 different excuses to talk about Movember until the month is over. From doing this, I learned that this mission really resonates with so many people – even people I didn’t think it would. My motivation now comes from the responses that I’ve gotten from being involved.
I have people reaching out to me who were going through struggles and I had no idea about. I don’t think I ever would have known and I don’t think they would have shared it if it weren’t for Movember helping to start that conversation. What’s really resonated with me is that everybody’s going through something, no matter the size, everybody is faced with challenges. And it can be so tough for people to acknowledge that and to ask for help. But I want people to know it’s okay to not be okay.
Looking out for your friends and family
While I don’t always have the answers, I always hope people will reach out to me. One thing I can always provide is this letting people know there’s someone out there that cares and wants to help. I love the ALEC Model. It’s something anyone can do. You just have to be willing to listen.
One of our sayings on Team Macho Macho is “redefining macho”. What we think macho is, is reaching out to your friends, asking for help, and being there for people. To take on that role in a relationship – that people will come to me to open up -- brings me a lot of pride.
Challenging stereotypes about masculinity
Some people think a man faces every problem on their own – they shouldn’t complain and they shouldn’t talk about it. But for us, being a man is talking these things and helping other people. What you’ll realize when you really start to talk, is that your issues might be the same as what someone else is going through. But you don’t know, if you don’t talk about it.
Team Macho Macho is about togetherness and tackling things together. We’re not some big firm with billions of dollars. We’re 15 to 20 guys and girls that genuinely care about this cause and really care about making a difference.
In college, we had this saying “lift as you climb”. Everyone is climbing their own mountain. Whatever life you’re going through, it’s your own map on that mountain. There’s going to be peaks, there’s going to be downfalls. But if you can keep on climbing, and lift other people as you’re doing it, it’s going to make it that much better.
Support Trammel’s mission to change the face of men’s health.