With the demands of daily life, staying active and being healthy can get moved to the backburner pretty quickly. But living a healthy lifestyle is something that should be on the forefront of our minds. The month of June, Men’s Health Month, is a good time to start the conversation.
As co-chairs of the Congressional Men’s Health Caucus, U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) and I hope to motivate men to take an active role in their wellbeing, as well as to bring awareness to health issues that affect men every day.
With Father’s Day right around the corner, I am thinking even more about my health – especially when it comes to the example I set for my kids, and the impact they have had on my life. I want to be around to see them grow up, and this is why I try to stay fit and healthy.
My two sons, Andrew and Jim, along with my oldest daughter, Larra, all wrestle. As a former wrestler, I am very proud to pass the tradition of wrestling on to my kids. Hopefully I’ll even be able to cheer for my grandkids on the wrestling mat one day. Working out to get in shape for wrestling season is something that we can do as a family, and it shows my kids that exercise doesn’t have to be a chore.
My kids are smaller versions of myself, so teaching them how to be healthy and giving them access to the tools and resources they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle is vital to their growth and development in adulthood.
This month, I encourage you to make a commitment to your own health. Let’s leave a healthy legacy for the next generations of Oklahomans.
###