5 Things I’ve Learned Creating Events for Guys Like Me
Eyes blurry, I found myself dazed waiting in the Gilda’s Club lobby while my wife was inside taking a Qigong class. My wife had recently been diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. She “beat” cancer six years prior, but it was returning like a two-headed monster. And it was bad.
This time was different. Ugly. Scary. With life or death consequences. As I waited for my wife to finish up her class, the Director at Gilda’s handed me a brochure about Jack’s Caregiver Coalition. I wondered, “Who are these cancer dudes? Is this going to be a waste of time? I don’t do group therapy circles. I don’t have time for silly bullshit right now.” On a whim, I took the risk and emailed Jack’s to get the conversation started. Long story short, here I am two years later, helping to plan events like axe throwing, Extreme Sandbox, Meat: The Workshop, ice carving, indoor skydiving and more. It’s been incredibly rewarding to try to make a difference for “Jacks” like me. So here’s what I’ve learned by creating these events:
#1. Lunch is where the good stuff happens.
#2. Everyone loves a good story to take to work on Monday.
#3. Fellow caregivers make me feel less like a martian.
#4. Guys aren’t inherently great planners of their social lives.
Just knowing I have an upcoming event is very exciting for me. The past events are not something I would normally plan for myself. I feel very accepted during and after the events.
#5. Sometimes our events serve as a metaphor for what we’re dealing with.
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