I have been trying a lot in recent years to keep my health in check as much as I can. I have been seeing a doctor regularly and have been taking medications to stop the onslaught of health problems being a man of size can bring.

How am I doing? OK I guess.

In case the reader didn’t know, I have been battling Irritable Bowel Syndrome for a few years. That and crippling anxiety at times is not a good combination.

I have my days. Usually when the weather is cloudy my mood tends to go down into a bad area and I struggle. I am not ashamed to admit this. Y’all know I always tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. It helps me and it hurts me.

I think one of my strong suits is that I have a good sense of empathy. For example: this week at work a very close friend had a relative pass away while he was on shift. He got a call about it and pulled me aside because he knew that he could count on me. I was there for him just as he had been there for me when I was going through tougher times myself.

That is the beautiful thing of something that is beyond friendship and almost (but not quite) family. There is some kind of indescribable bond there that is unique and one-of-a-kind.

Does any of that make sense? Well, it does to me.

And there is why your emotional health is just as important as your physical health.