Hayden, a good friend and roomsXML employee, on seeing my Movember effort said: ‘Dude, I will give you 50 bucks more if you die it pink’.
We bargained that if he could get our friends to raise $250 by the Saturday, I would match it $250 and then dye it pink.
By Sunday afternoon I was a yoga freaking people out with a dirty pink moustache and my friends had been kind enough to donate approaching $400… I matched it.
Interesting journey. You can see it here.
It’s been quite amusing
I forget I have done it. People look at my mouth and I assume I’ve got some kale stuck in between my teeth. It’s freaky.
I feel very self conscious until I remember why. Like my mum said, at least you shave it off next week. Matt from roomsXML pisses himself every time he sees me.
But in the very short time I have had the pink moustache on I’ve had some incredible revelations. Here they are.
‘Why would you do that, dude?’
Well, it was a challenge. It’s also a situation where you can do something slightly crazy, give lots of people a laugh, for a really good cause.
Otherwise, last year a very influential karate instructor lost his battle with depression. He left behind a wife. An enduring memory I have is his two-year-old son playing with trucks at the front of the Chapel during the service.
At school there were two guys from my year level who committed suicide related to depression. One was the super popular guy who could not bear to tell his friends that he was gay. The second was more a fringe dweller, but very valued by a more intimate group of friends who if I remember correctly, lost his battle with drugs. Movember was started by guys who went to my school. A small level of support.
In the travel industry last year we lost a chap who I understand had a history of depression. At a recent event a collaborator told me she had two friends in two days commit suicide.
But wait, there’s more
Sasha, my wife and I also took on the Movember 30-day challenge. Food poisoning slowed the start of her campaign, where every joint in my body, where I have averaged more than one exercise session a day since the start of Movember, is complaining loudly.
Ahh bit of pink moustache, the pain of waking at 5.30am to hit a punching bag, if it contributes to saving one person, is well worth the effort.
But really, why do these things?
I have so much admiration for those people who really live their beliefs, especially those who continually give back.
I’ve been privileged over the last few months to be brought to tears by the generosity of Gate 7, to hear about Reho’s initiatives, to see the stuff that G Adventures are doing, to work with a gentleman who is paying for kids from his homeland to attend university.
In my world there is very little else anyone could do to let me know that they are authentic and trustworthy. They fill me with inspiration.
So I try to emulate it and for this moment, this is me living it. Being authentic. Putting myself out there for something I believe in.
What else have I learnt?
It’s fascinating to have people stare at you. Whilst mostly good, it’s very unnerving. Can you imagine what it would be like to be disabled, have a big birthmark or continually be the centre of attention when you aren’t seeking it. It’s given me just a touch of appreciation about how some of these people must feel.
Then somehow I amongst it are idiots who look at you with scorn: ‘You are too old to do that’. When I explain, they don’t get it. FFS. Get over yourself.
But most people love it. My friends? The generosity makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
The most important part?
It’s starting the conversation that matters. I would love to think, given the chance to talk with any of those who we’ve lost, that maybe a few words would help. Talking matters, being there for people matters, sharing with the matters.
An SMS to say, ‘hey mate, checking that black dog is leaving you alone’, is enough to let someone know ‘You may not believe it, but you matter enormously to me, even though our friendship is a short one’. You know who you are.
So for one crazy, hairy month of the year, maybe you don’t want to do a 30 day challenge, maybe you can’t grow a mo, but maybe, just maybe, there is someone who you can talk to, be compassionate towards, go out of your comfort zone and talk with and listen to.
Try it.
