06/09/2026
June is Pride Month. It’s also Men’s Mental Health Month.
Those might seem like two completely different conversations, but after a decade of coaching, I don’t think they are.
At the core of both is something every human being needs: acceptance, connection, and a sense of belonging.
People are lonely right now. Men are struggling. LGBTQ+ individuals are struggling. Mental health challenges don’t care who you love, what you look like, or where you come from.
One of the coolest things I’ve witnessed through CrossFit isn’t weight loss, PRs, or physical transformations. It’s watching people find their people.
I’ve seen men who felt completely isolated build friendships that extend far beyond the gym walls. I’ve seen people walk in carrying anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, and years of self-doubt and slowly start to believe in themselves again. I’ve seen athletes from the LGBTQ+ community find spaces where they can simply show up as themselves and be welcomed.
No, a workout isn’t therapy. A barbell won’t cure depression. But movement helps. Community helps. Feeling like someone would notice if you didn’t show up helps.
Sometimes the hour you spend in the gym isn’t the most important part of your day because of the fitness. Sometimes it’s the most important part because it’s the one place you know you’ll be encouraged, challenged, supported, and seen.
That’s powerful.
This month, let’s celebrate the people who have the courage to be themselves, the people who ask for help when they need it, and the communities that remind us we’re not meant to do life alone.
Everyone deserves a place where they belong.
At the very least let’s try not being as****es 💅🏼🎉
