There’s simply no denying it: we are living in an age of nostalgia. From classic television reunions to cultural styles, there’s a collective yearning for the comforting memories of yesteryear that’s perhaps unsurprising given the slog we’ve all endured these past 18 months. And our enthusiasm for reminiscence makes perfect scientific sense – according to a study published last year in Frontiers in Psychology, nostalgia assists in combating loneliness in times of crisis. An earlier pre-pandemic study went deeper still, identifying nostalgia as a useful resource for optimal psychological health and overall wellbeing.

And while we indulge in a trip down memory lane, you need look only as far as your favourite streaming service to know which era reigns supreme: the early 2000s are back, in all their post-Y2K glory.

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While in the early stages of pulling together our final issue for 2021, I had a dream. Not, unfortunately, in the Martin Luther King Jnr sense – this was a night-time vision that struck with such realism that it left me fretting for hours after awakening.

In said dream, my teeth fell out. I could feel my lips wrap around my bare gums, settling into the little grooves where my ivories should have been. It was like being a toddler again, tonguing the gap where a baby tooth fell out, yet on a much grander (and more horrifying) scale.

Following a moment of dreamy relief at being released from the shackles of eternal brushing and flossing, a panic set in, strong enough to wake me from my slumber. What could it mean?

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DESPITE THE DIVISION you see splashed across your myriad of devices, there are still things in our shared human existence that spark joy in almost everyone: puppies, cancelled meetings, Matthew McConaughey saying “alright, alright, alright”, that first sip of a Friday afternoon beer, your screen remaining intact after dropping your phone, receiving a negative COVID test, a ripe avocado, Julia Roberts’ smile, Julia Roberts with a puppy, a Friday afternoon beer with Julia Roberts and a smiling puppy . . . and, perhaps most unanimously of all, music.

Sure, even in this purest of pleasures, taste is subjective. But it’s undeniable that even the biggest cynic can find joy in the thumping chorus of their favourite song.

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What makes a modern-day hero? If you’re hooked on a certain film genre, you might say superhuman strength, virtuousness and a commitment to defend and protect the good people of your land. Perhaps even a gritty origin story. And spandex.

But what about in the real world?

Like almost every former schoolkid, I remember being assigned my first major writing task. I was about 10 years old, and it was sometime between earning my pen licence and learning the game of bullrush. The theme: who is your hero and why?

My answer back then came as easily as it does now: my dad.

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Working for Men’s Health comes with some undeniable perks, none more rewarding than the people you meet. We cross paths with extraordinary talents and minds: doctors, scientists, athletes, artists and, yes, the odd celebrity.

While still in my journalistic infancy, I have picked up a few habits from more senior colleagues – one of which is to immerse myself in the world of my subject. A kind of ‘method journalism’, it involves trying to gain an insight into their life before we talk; to share a common mindset; to understand what makes them tick or, at the very least, to have had a shared experience. The goal is to break the ice, leading to a more authentic conversation – and, hopefully, a more interesting read for you.

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IN THE LATE 1970S a researcher from the University of Chicago, Salvatore Maddi, was studying the psychological motivations of 26,000 employees working at a local phone company. Soon after the study began, there were major disruptions to the business as deregulation of the US phone industry caused mass changes to resourcing and operations.

Unsurprisingly, there were many employees who rejected the changes, experiencing feelings of victimisation and a yearning for the ‘good old days’. These employees struggled, resisting forces of change that were largely outside of their control. What was surprising to Maddi and his researchers was the flow-on effects of this resistance, most strikingly in the form of serious health conditions: heart attack, stroke, obesity, depression and substance abuse, as well as relationship breakdown, were common among the downtrodden.

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Why then do we pretend? Why do we method-act our way through life, attempting to conceal our warts, yet as often as not, muting our brilliance? Is it a fear of being vulnerable? Or of what others might think of us? Of being rejected? Or of being isolated for not conforming to society’s norms? It’s likely all these things. The problem? As heavy metal drummer Ben Gordon (click here), so eloquently puts it, “try and be something you’re not, and the bullshit detectors go off”.

This month I encourage you to yell ‘cut’ on your act, to cast aside fear and call ‘action’ in your own life. There’s never been a better time to be a man, nor a more accepting culture to truly own your identity. The script has been flipped. Authenticity is having a long-overdue moment. So, go forth and play the greatest role of your life: you. It may not win you an Oscar, but you’ll undoubtedly be the People’s Choice.

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WHILE OUR annual Earth Issue is a highlight on the editorial calendar, it also hits with a bittersweet flavour. Personally, I find the content of these issues fascinating and essential, particularly in light of the current state of the world. However, therein lies the problem: why is it still necessary to produce an Earth Issue when, by now, everyone’s eyes should be open to the environmental crisis that’s threatening to spin out of control? 

As this issue went to print, communities along the East Coast of Australia were rebuilding following devastating floods, yet another ‘once in a lifetime’ ecological disaster unfolding only three years after the last. As the fallout continues, if you’re still asking, “What does the environment have to do with my health?”, then this is the issue for you. 

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“I’M GAY.” Quite possibly two of the hardest words any person may have to say – to their family, to their friends and colleagues, and even to themselves. And while the world is certainly a kinder place than it has been, living as a member of the LGBT+ community still carries significant risk for many. Simply to exist as an LGBT+ person in 2022 requires strength, bravery and resilience.

So when Josh Cavallo (click here) took to Instagram in 2021 identifying as the only openly gay professional footballer in the world, he was also taking one brave step towards equality. Josh – and others like him, from other fields – are paving the way for a generation of LGBT+ youth, saving lives in the process and creating a safer space for those struggling with their sexuality. Myself included. 

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