An Emirati Eye: Inspirational Storyteller Aida Al Busaidy On Prioritising Yourself Throughout Difficult Times

Communications Strategist and storyteller Aida Al Busaidy gives us an important reminder that good health, both physical and mental, should come first – always

I’m not sure exactly when, but being focused on my mental and physical health became my number one priority. Me first, then everything and everyone else, because I believe if you are not ok, then you can’t take care of anyone else.

Sad story, but I lost my appendix at the start of 2021, at the height of COVID and pre-vaccine period. It was ugly but necessary. No one tells you how it happens and one day, it just does. Oh, and I was also misdiagnosed with COVID because it had similar symptoms. By the time they realised I was infected with a busted appendix, I was in isolation. Obviously, I’m alive to tell the tale, albeit one useless organ short, but here we are…

So where am I going with this? Well, you see, October is a month where several health-related issues are globally recognised. From individuals to companies and governments, as well as celebrities shedding light on some key issues such as World Mental Health Day on 10th to Breast Cancer Awareness all month, October has a lot more emphasis than in comparison to the rest of the year.

Access to healthcare and wellness centres or experts is a blessing beyond compare. Mental health of late has become a top priority here in the UAE as much as it is globally. So much so, that His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has launched a Dhs105 million initiative to help residents and citizens cope with the challenges of day-to-day life in a major city as part of the D33 Social Agenda.

As for breast cancer, I recall the community walks to raise awareness for something once considered taboo, but now openly discussing mammograms. Under the insurance policy, check ups for all women over 40 is a must. In the past, people would travel East for full-body checkups and wellness retreats because the birth place of Ayurveda is India. If you look more towards the East, Thailand is known as the hub for wellness and spa treatments. A little bit further off the coast is Japan, balancing modernity and tradition with wellbeing front and centre. Beyond their herbal approach to medicine, one can’t deny their serene coastlines also put you at ease as you get better.

As we become more global and connected, those traditions of wellness are now being widely accepted, shared and used to empower cities and countries to not only attract tourists, but also care for their citizens and residents. The level of information, access to data and shared knowledge has empowered us to decipher symptoms (please don’t panic- Google them – check with a qualified doctor), but make informed decisions on how to take care of ourselves and our loved ones better.

This year, if you haven’t already started, take care of yourself first so you can be a better caretaker to those you love.

Photography: Efraim Evidor. Styling: Imogene Legrand. Make-up & hair: Arina Zubakhina. Stylist’s assistant: Janhvi Kohli. Special thanks to the St. Regis Downtown Dubai

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s October 2024 issue