Meet Kajal!
Hey everyone! My name is Kajal and I'm a second-year Waterloo Pharmacy Student. I am very excited to be working with the Behind My Mind campaign to create a safe space for individuals to share their stories and embrace the diversity of mental health.
We’ve come so far with technology in being able to diagnose and understand illnesses before they take over us. But where is the device that tells others you’re feeling alone today and could use some support? Or that you physically cannot get out of bed because your mind is exhausted. The mind is such a complex entity, and it’s what makes each one of us beautifully unique. It’s taken me some time, but I’m starting to get better with telling myself “it’s okay not to feel 100% every day” and accepting that not everyone will see where you’re coming from…yet. One thing that has honestly helped me is reading real-life stories of how different people approach and deal with mental health, including on this platform. Over the next several stages of my life, I want to work towards building unity and eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health. If you’re not feeling your best today, that’s okay. Finding the strength to confide in something or someone takes time, but I promise that you will find your light.
Some things that I do when I’m not feeling my best are listening to music, reading mystery novels and watching MasterChef (and imagining that I will be on MasterChef one day…). I encourage you to engage in self-care and self-love every day, in whatever way that makes you feel good, and I thank you for being the unique individual that you are!
As I come to an end with this post, I would like to leave you with a few words. Check-in and listen. With yourself, with your friends, family and colleagues. And I hope that each of you will continue to share your powerful stories and inspire millions around the world. ❤