Me.....Again 2025..same quote more reflection

The Reason Fat Men Are Good-Natured

“The reason fat men are good-natured is they can neither fight nor run.” – Theodore Roosevelt

When I first came across that quote, I laughed out loud—partly because of Roosevelt’s blunt wit, and partly because it hit a little too close to home.

My name is Ciarán Cunningham. I’m 53 years old, a husband of one, dad of one, and carrying around 20 stone that makes me firmly qualify for Roosevelt’s observation. I’m on the wrong side of fifty, though to be fair, it’s the only side available if you want to stay alive.

Life at 53: The Good-Natured Stage

At this age, I’ve realised there’s no point trying to fight everyone and everything, and running is completely out of the question. So, you learn to do something else—you laugh. You laugh at yourself, at the quirks of life, and at the fact that the younger version of me thought I’d have it all figured out by now. The local doctor once said to me that, you really need to get your weight undercontrol before you hit 50...oh well that ship has sailed...

What I do have, though, is a perspective that only comes from years of trial, error, and the occasional dodgy knee. I’ve learned that being good-natured isn’t about surrendering—it’s about choosing peace over pointless conflict. Maybe that’s wisdom, or maybe it’s just stiff joints. Either way, it works.

A Husband, a Dad, and Still Learning

Being a husband and father has been my greatest education. Nothing teaches you humility faster than marriage, except maybe raising a child who figures out how to work an iPad better than you do before they can spell their own name.

I’m proud of the fact that, even with the weight, the creaks, and the realisation that my hair is in the past tense, I’m still moving forward. Still showing up. Still laughing.

The 20 Stone Perspective

Carrying around 20 stone isn’t glamorous. It means you don’t buy skinny jeans, and your tee T-shirts can be mistaken for a circus tent. It means stairs are negotiable but not to be underestimated. It means you quickly become good at finding the nearest chair at any event. But it also means you develop patience—with yourself and with others. You learn that worth isn’t measured on a bathroom scale, but on how you treat people.

And that’s where I circle back to Roosevelt’s line. Maybe fat men are good-natured because we’ve realised life isn’t a sprint—it’s a stroll - old bull versus young bull. And if you’ve got 20 stone to stroll with, you might as well enjoy the scenery, crack a joke, and be kind along the way.

Looking Ahead

So here I am: 53, still standing, still laughing, still learning. This blog is my place to share some of that journey—thoughts on life, work, health, safety, family, and everything in between. If you’re also on the wrong side of 50, or carrying a few more pounds than you’d like, or just trying to figure things out, then welcome. You’re in good company.

Because at the end of the day, Roosevelt was right—fighting and running might be for the young, but good nature is for all of us. And if you can laugh at yourself, you’re already winning.