Patrick now feels positive about the future and looks forward to staying connected with the group and MENDS graduates. Patrick expressed deep gratitude for the course, thanking Owen and all involved for their significant commitment. He noted the cyclical nature of the journey and the immense value gained from regular check-ins, structured autobiography, and recognising relationship patterns, stating the course has made a big, life-saving difference. Patrick encourages Owen to continue the program for other men, offering his help with future delivery. Now, Patrick feels positive about the future, looks forward to staying connected, and believes the MENDS program has already made him a better husband and father.

Duane expressed feeling better after sharing his program experience, crediting the group for providing a space to discuss “big hits” he otherwise would have “kept in.” Owen noted the program’s success in drawing “the hero out of you.”

Duane found the “letter from future me” exercise challenging, requiring three drafts and “quite a few deep breaths,” resulting in a positive but “pretty f-king emotional” letter. He cited Winston Churchill’s quote on writing one’s own history and referenced Frank Sinatra’s “I did it my way.”

Duane called the overall experience an unexpected “f-king journey,” expressing happiness to have met everyone. He valued being able to share his experiences and challenges without dismissal, and found it humbling to witness the men “take that risk.”

Robert deeply thanks Owen for his generous time dedicated to the group, noting that “words don’t really show how grateful” he is, and feels privileged to be part of the group. He found the connection with others to be the most special part of the course. The “deep diving” into his biography, using a new methodical, step-by-step approach, was highly valuable, enabling him to gain self-understanding he previously lacked. Having spent five years “walking around like a broken heart,” Robert is now better equipped to deal with past pain. His goals are to move on, be happy, “build my life in a more meaningful way,” “not get knocked down,” and “keep the momentum” by applying the advice received. He hopes to stay connected with the group, calling them a “huge source of inspiration and knowledge and wisdom.”

Phillip discusses his personal growth, acknowledging it was an “up and down” journey, and highlights the essential benefit of connection. Key takeaways include realising the value of “true friends communication,” feeling close to the group, and appreciating their listening, respect, and non-judgmental attitude. He mentions that the group helped “the little Phil,” previously “downtrodden,” “too anxious and too scared,” emerge, relating this to schema therapy. Phil feels he is growing, aspires to “make a something in history,” and looks forward to continuing and potentially participating in a group. He advises his fellow participants to read the “lesson outcomes” for valuable insights on appreciating the journey. He concludes by thanking Owen, Marsha, and everyone for the “great journey.”

Terry found the program beneficial, wishing he’d joined sooner. Initially hesitant, he found the material “thought-provoking” and helpful for discussing struggles with a supportive group, noting the rarity of such open vulnerability among men. He realised people often dismiss his attempts to share problems. Terry commends Owen for creating the program, which he believes addresses a “massive gap” in resources for men who often feel “dispensable” and are “getting left behind,” effectively “saving guys’ lives.” The group’s shared experience fosters a deep understanding, allowing men to express themselves without burdening others. He credits Owen and the participants for creating an easy environment for men to talk openly.

Owen, the MENDS Program Creator, discusses life’s certainties: the profound physical ache “when love leaves” and the expansive, euphoric feeling “when love arrives.” He connects these to Carl Jung’s “synchronicity”—the unmistakable sense of improbable events signalling, “Pay attention.”

Owen first felt synchronicity holding his newborn daughter. Two powerful things occurred: time was divided into “before and after,” and the humbling realisation he “wasn’t smart enough to have made this happen,” feeling part of something bigger. He has spent a lifetime seeking to understand this “humbling experience,” which he has felt again in the past MENDS programs.

He highlights the unmistakable truth in speech that carries “risk, dreaming, yearning,” unlike mere intellectual exercise. Owen discusses the “letter from future me” exercise, which mobilises yearning “to make your own history” and draw out the “hero.” He finds it a humbling experience to witness men take this risk.