Natural Awakenings Twin Cities June 2023

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET
letter from the publisher
TWIN CITIES EDITION
Publisher Candi Broeffle
Editors Cheryl Hynes
Randy Kambic
Ad Sales Candi Broeffle
Design & Production Sara Shrode
CONTACT US
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Ph: 763-270-8604
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Check with a healthcare professional regarding the
appropriate use of any treatment.
In the last few years, there have been numerous articles on the
epidemic of loneliness in men. A simple Google search offers up
a plethora of articles and videos to support this assertion. Within
those articles are research findings that explain how, as children, boys
are nearly equally as successful as girls in building and maintaining
relationships. This starts to fall apart as boys enter their teenage years,
focusing more on success in sports, academia and their careers.
Once men partner with a spouse, friendships are often led by
the female partner who arranges gatherings with other couples. If Candi Broeffle
the relationship ends, the friendships often end as well. Even more
devastating, the spouse is often the only person with whom the husband has shared
their innermost feelings, and now there is no one to hold that space.
Many of these articles focus on how women can support the men in their lives to
make their own connections, holding safe space for them to connect on deep, emotional
levels. This provides a temporary bandage; true healing will only ensue when the man
wholly owns his responsibility.
The global pandemic has brought to light many things that are wrong in our society,
including people feeling lonely, even though we are constantly surrounded by other people
in-person and online. It has also created a desire in all of us to have more meaning in
our lives, including deeper friendships. For many men, this requires a significant change
in how they relate to others.
I often speak with men who are open, emotionally intelligent and versed in numerous
topics of interest. They share how disheartening it is to meet a potential friend who cannot
have a conversation without making off-color jokes or arguing why their viewpoint is the
only one. As a society, we have not allowed men to be vulnerable without seeming weak.
I am encouraged by how many men in my age group are making changes to become
their authentic selves, stripping away the many masks/personas they have worn most of
their lives. They actively seek friendships with other men willing to do the same, finding
deep connection in their willingness to do things differently. The best part is, they are
modeling this for the young men in their lives.
The positive impact this has on physical and mental health is exponential. Loneliness
is stressful; it depletes your energy and eats away at your soul. Connection is life-giving;
it increases energy and feeds the soul. Our men deserve long, healthy, purposeful lives;
kudos to the forerunners who are making it happen! As more men actively make these
choices, not only will their lives change, so will our world.
Here’s for the shift!
Natural Awakenings
Magazine is ranked
5th Nationally in
CISION’S ® 2016
Top 10 Health &
Fitness Magazines
Candi Broeffle, Publisher
Natural Awakenings is printed on
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4 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com