We got all excited a few days ago when Steve Farina sent us pics of the Canadian Border Agents making the #SameHere sign. It signified a vision morphing into a reality – a world where we all could fit in together.
This picture we received yesterday from @mend.uae goes up there in “meaning” with that pic from Steve & the Border folks.
We got a notification from the “stories” feature on our IG that someone had tagged our account on their own video story. When we looked (& it’s still up now for some folks who get to this post early enough), we saw this very kind woman you see in the pics here, talking about how in the UAE (where she is from), they only talk about MH in terms of diagnosis & treatment.
It’s almost surreal to us, but she shared in the video that this “crazy” account she follows inspires her, bc it shows how ppl in other parts of the world, outside of the UAE can talk about their MH as a strength – to applaud those who are battling & especially those who have battled & are now looking back & helping others. To also applaud those who are being proactive about their MH practices.
A little on the UAE: The United Arab Emirates is an Arabian Peninsula nation settled mainly along the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. The country is a federation of 7 emirates.
To think that a country around the world, that we have never visited, can understand this #SameHere concept, digest it, & share it with their brothers & sisters – shows the power of how the internet & social media can be used for good – for bringing ppl together around our common challenges & how we handle them.
Please take a look at @mend.uae’s page…& let’s hope this is just the tip of the iceberg. Yes we have advocates in countries all over. But to see a video like this, unsolicited, & to see that a message is reaching that far & can bind us all together is truly remarkable & humbles us more than you can know. This is a big world, but it doesn’t have to be THAT big if we can come together over our commonalities. Thanks @mend.uae!
We are living through a time where talking about unification is less popular and more risky than talking about divison