In the Barber Chair with Mac Hawkins

For Mac Hawkins, Founder at Pragmatic Pictures, a film and television literary consultancy, there is an importance he places on being present in the moment. Mac recently sat down with us in the barber chair to expand on his experiences and ways of balancing his mental health during the pandemic, reasons to stay present, and much more.

Movember: In the past year with the pandemic how have you been balancing your mental health?

Mac: With great care and intentionality.

I've been taking care of my mental health by trying to be present in every moment and finding places, people, things, moments, stories, and experiences that remind me that things are not always as chaotic as the world can seem at this particular time in a very long human history.

What advice would you give to other men?

I would suggest to live happier, healthier, longer lives that other men cultivate relationships, habits, and experiences that fulfill the you of the moment — those things that really honour what it is you need in every particular moment.

Why is Movember meaningful to you or men's health in general?

Men's health in general and Movember in particular are meaningful because it is often difficult, as a man, to be in touch with the vulnerability that makes growth possible and mental health manageable.

To bring a message of awareness and intentionality to being in the moment and in touch with one’s true self, I think is an incredibly helpful way to look at the world.

Knowing what you know and the experiences you've had in life, what advice would you give to your younger self?

The advice I would give to my younger self is that nothing lasts forever. That things always change and very little is fatal in life. That it's important to remember in the bad times that even if you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel it is there and remembering the good times how that feels because that will get you through the tunnel when you're back in it.

Join in supporting men’s health and sign up now for Movember.