I usually find it quite entertaining when two worlds collide. Regular readers will know that I always get a kick out of it when a cast member from one of my favorite shows, Eastenders attends a Brits in LA event. This past Tuesday the lovely Michelle Collins honoured Breakfast Club with her presence!
But a not-so-pleasant example occurred just last week. I was disturbed to discover I had crossed paths (possibly several times) with President Assad’s wife. Asma al-Assad has been in the news a lot recently, the stories are mainly focusing on her whitewashed Instagram account which depicts a very different Syria to the country from which countless thousands of refugees are trying to escape. One such article happened to mention her early life in Britain, and I was taken aback when I learned we had attended the same high school at the same time. This revelation stirred all kinds of emotions, including horror but mainly sadness, as even though we may have had a similar start in life, we took extremely different paths and appear to have very opposing morals.
There is currently a call to revoke Amsa’s British citizenship. I completely understand this reaction, but I do wonder if she too has no choice. I would like to think that the British government will consider this very carefully before they act, as she may well need their protection at some point.
Possibly my favorite collision was with a popular member of the Royal Family; Craig and I were lucky enough to be invited to the annual Cartier Queen’s Cup Final in Windsor many years ago. During the event I was approached by a young man who informed me that ‘Wales’ wanted to meet me, I of course asked ‘Who?’ and was amused to be told he meant Prince Harry.
I politely declined, as by this point he had already garnered quite the reputation with his preference for older women. On reflection I realize that he was probably just seeking out a mother figure. He bravely revealed this week that he had finally sought counseling to address these issues caused by the loss of his mother, Princess Diana. The rebellious acts that have created headlines over the years were more than likely a huge cry for help. He credited his brother Prince William for encouraging him to eventually seek help. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are also spearheading the Heads Together campaign (headstogether.co.uk) to end the stigma around mental health and encourage people to forget the ‘stiff upper lip’ mentality and speak out instead of suffering in silence.
I think we have all been affected by this in one way or another – just the anxiety of starting a new life and moving to a new country is enough to send anyone a bit bonkers, and we all react in different ways. Mental health issues can be triggered by many things, not just traumatic events. I have struggled with mild anxiety and lethargy over the past couple of years and it turns out that for me it is caused by extremely low iron levels. I am fortunate enough to have found an excellent GP who made the discovery that I am anemic. This comes with many symptoms which can often be confused with mental health problems, including fatigue which unsurprisingly can lead to a form of depression. If I hadn’t spoken up about this to my doctor I may not be getting the help that I needed; I am sure many of you suffer silently, but rest assured you aren’t special or beyond help. The first step is talking about it – whether it be with family or friends or even initially just being honest with yourself. If you aren’t as lucky as me to have a doctor you feel comfortable discussing this with, you can find lots of resources online, including of course the Heads Together website, but there are also tons of local organizations listed on the US government mental heath website – I have created this easy link for you to remember, just in case you need it at a later date. www.tinyurl.com/headstogether.
As always, feel free to drop me a line at eileen@britsin.la or come along to our weekly Brits in LA Breakfast Club supported by Air New Zealand – on April 28th we have a really fun one planned. It is officially LA LA Land Day! Post your photos on #Instagram and use these hashtags #BritsinLA #lalaland to be entered to win a complimentary Breakfast for Two (or if you are hungry you could just have two breakfasts for one!) winners will be picked on Saturday 22nd April and your free meals are to be redeemed on LALALand Day!
Cheers!
Eileen
