2024 Motivation:

This MOvember, I’m growing my moustache to share a vital message: prioritizing our health and embracing self-awareness is essential for every man. My Mo symbolizes my commitment to hold space for any brother who feels lost or in pain. It’s time we challenge the outdated views of masculinity that have caused so much harm. True strength comes from being in tune with our emotions. Our loved ones need us, and we can’t support them unless our own foundation is strong. Let’s redefine strength together and uplift one another on this journey.

Previous Message

2024
When I first decided to participate in Movember at the age of 19, I never imagined I’d still be taking part 15 years later. Back then, being the son of a man surviving terminal cancer defined much of my identity. When my dad passed away eight years ago, I heard hundreds of people say, "Be strong for your family" or "You're the man of the house now."

I took on society’s narrow view of what it meant to be a "strong" man. I “manned up,” hardened myself like a rock, avoided vulnerability, and did everything in my power to not be seen as weak. I disassociated from all emotions, didn’t allow myself to grieve, and over time, that emotional suppression showed up as physical health issues. I lost my sense of self and put everyone else’s needs before my own.

For the past two years, I’ve been focused on healing—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Not from the trauma of losing my father, but from the toll of trying to live up to the traditional ideals of masculinity. While I no longer claim this story as my identity, I'm grateful for all the chapters of my life and am elated to share that I’m starting to see and feel the impact of my journey toward self-discovery.

This Movember, I’m growing my mustache to share a vital message: prioritizing our health and embracing self-awareness is essential for every man. My mustache symbolizes my commitment to hold space for any brother who feels lost or in pain. It’s time we challenge the outdated views of masculinity that have caused so much harm. True strength comes from being in tune with our emotions. Our loved ones need us, and we can’t support them unless our own foundation is strong.

Let’s start a conversation that helps create a world where tears are seen as strength, not weakness.
Let’s redefine what it means to be strong—together.

Previous Message

2023
This MOvember felt a little strange for me. With strict instructions to be looking sharp as the best man in my sister wedding on December 2nd, I decided to start with a Mo on Nov. 1 and let the facial hair start growing back in after about a week of just the Mo. Yes, this is breaking all of the official MOvember rules, but I figured it was better to break the rules than not participate at all.

My Motivation remains the same this year as it did last year, “Take care of the important men in your life, so they can take care of you.” But after my 12th year participating in MOvember last year, I decided to practice what I preach and am proud to share with you that I kept the promises I made to myself during MOvember last year. I made my health a priority in my life and I hope that I can inspire you to do the same.

In the past year I have seen 3 Doctors, 3 alternative medical practitioners, and 4 therapists/social workers. In addition I read several self-help books, listened to endless hours of self-development podcasts, built numerous lifechanging daily habits, taken >50 different natural supplements, started practicing meditation, solo-travelled for the first time, became obsessed with a new sport that my body can actually handle and changed jobs to align my work with my values.

So what is the result of all of these changes? I’m sleeping better, have more energy, can actually digest food, am less anxious, feel a wider range of emotions and I have strengthened relationships with my family, my friends and myself. I also accidently lost 30 pounds I wasn’t aware I needed to lose. While my focus and priority has been my health, I believe truly believe that all aspects of my life have improvements because I have more available to give.

My previous message:

2022
The month of the MOvember has come and gone once again. While I know most of you are anxiously awaiting us to shave these dusters off our face, there are select few who are counting down the days until November of 2023 when the mustaches come back. Regardless of your opinion on the illusive mustache, I wanted to remind you why it is you see so many men sporting the mustache in support of MOvember.

This is my 12th year growing a mustache to support the cause and my second year as part of the M’OPG team. Originally I participated in MOvember in honor of my late father, and that evolved into raising awareness/funding for men’s health with a focus on mental health, testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

Today I grow a mustache for a simpler reason. My Motivation is “Take care of the important men in your life, so they can take care of you.” I believe most men see themselves responsible for taking care of the loved ones in their life, but we can’t do that if we don’t take care of ourselves first.

We have all seen the memes of women saying “I’m fine” when really, they’re not. Yet we take men at their word when they say they are fine and don’t probe any further. Some men believe they are ‘fine’ because it is all that they know, while others know they are not but are too proud to admit it, “too busy” to resolve their issue(s), or think that their issue(s) are “not important” in comparison. Regardless of the reason, men need to take care of themselves; mentally, emotionally and physically. That could be dealing with the bad ankle/shoulder that bothers you daily, the minor headache you get weekly, the stomach pain you get after eating certain foods, relieving the stress you build up at work, or dealing with the trauma of your past.