As an American living much of the past two years in Romania, there are very few things I miss. Transylvania, known in the United States more for its vampire lore than for its beautiful land, hospitable villagers, and rich culture, has much to offer the adventuresome tourist and the wandering ex-patriot. Nevertheless, I occasionally yearned for a couple of things I enjoyed Stateside: Chicago-style pizza, large shoe-sizes, and . . . rollerblading.

Like most Americans, I enjoy a good workout. Not one for endless repetitions in a weight room, nor infinite laps around a track or in a pool, I like to exercise in ways that are more pleasurable, or more practical. For example, I enjoy team sports. I also enjoy rollerblading because I can get where I need to go anyway, but more quickly, and more actively. The problem? Size 14 in-line skates are too cumbersome to carry when I am packing lightly for an overseas voyage, and too costly to ship. Unfortunately, large sizes in ANY type of footwear are practically non-existent in Romania, and well-paved roads do not go far. So, I had to do without.

How do you get your exercise? What does it mean to be healthy? Men and women both, ask yourselves these questions, but Men, I am particularly interested in you. Why? Because I am man, and I have been finding that men have a certain image of masculinity, and a certain notion of what it means to be a man--a healthy man.

No, really. How do you measure your health? Is it with a pedometer tied to your shoe laces? Or through a blood pressure cuff? Do you push yourself to add more weights? Or to lose weight? Are you healthy when you look a certain way, or can run a certain distance in a certain amount of time?

Some of my international friends chuckle at Americans jogging past, because such focus on "health" is so foreign to some of the Eastern European culture. I must admit that I, too, am often stymied by the fact that many of us log long hours at the closest gym, diet several times a month, and watch Dr. Oz, all the while chasing an elusive happiness! The strongest iron-men, the greatest athletes, the most fit neighbors are mostly trapped in invisible boxes of stress, broken relationships, depression, addictions, and overwhelming secrets. Many put on a facade everyday at work, or at the gym, or they flee their problems on a bike or in a mini-marathon, or in front of their fancy flat-screen television. All so they do not have to talk about their problems without solutions, and their questions without answers! Is that fitness?

Why do I write this? Because I know that the majority of us guys are looking for more. I am meeting men, REAL men, not wimps, who are finding out that they want to address their health from every angle, not just muscle tone or endurance. They are realizing that as they sink into lonely frustration, our society, lacking "manly" men, is drowning into moral oblivion. The more we nurse our fears with horror films, pornography, harmful substances, abuse, anger, and hate, the more we isolate ourselves in pits of despair, contemplate suicide, or deceive ourselves behind leering masks of "okayness."

I am not suggesting counseling.

I am challenging men to use their muscle and their endurance to switch off their satellite and stand up. Come on, Fellas! Let's confront the issues that are bleeding our world of life. Stand up against the filth that our newspapers report! Refuse to let rape and battery and AIDS and homelessness and hunger and human-trafficking gain ground! Stop letting news of bloodshed whisper in your ears without pricking your heart! Defy the evil to which your eyes have become nearly numb! Exercise your conscience, and stand for something worthy, even if you are the only one. You are not the only one . . . but you might be the FIRST one! Are there any strong men willing to run such a race?

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