21 Reasons Why We'll Be Better Men In 2019

We’re letting go of tired, traditional definitions of what it means to be a man. We now have the freedom to be better. Here’s why 2019 will be your best year yet

- Kieran Legg and Megan Flemmit

1 WE HAVE AUTHENTIC ROLE MODELS

(Like our cover guy winner Tawanda Tadzimirwa)

In 2017, Tawanda’s life slowly spiralled out of control. It was the worst year of his life.

His downward spiral started with a sharp pain emanating from his shoulders. A sign that Tawanda needed a break from the gym. It was a pain he was familiar with – at least once a year, he would experience the pain in his shoulders. After recovering for one or two weeks, he would be back in the gym.

2017 was different. After taking his usual break from exercise to rest his injured shoulders, Tawanda found he didn’t have the motivation to head back. Two weeks turned into a month, which turned into six. “It’s almost like I didn’t have the determination. Once you’re out of training, it’s very difficult to go back.”

Soon, all aspects of his life were affected by his lack of training. “Work was touch and go. I found it difficult to keep focus on a lot of things.” His inability to concentrate negatively affected his finances. Along with that he found he no longer had the drive to interact with his friends. “I became a recluse. I felt like there was nothing going for me, so I pulled back from my friends. There was nothing going for me.”

All his attempts to pull himself out of his slump proved futile. “I tried to go back to the gym once or twice, but it just wasn’t happening.”