Before we start sending our weekly newsletter from next week I just wanted to say Hi 👋. You can think of this as a STORY TIME of who I am and what to expect from my future newsletters.
I am Ruchie and Polite society is my attempt at creating a safe space for conversations about mental health among South Asians. I have worked as a marketer for over 12 years now and am currently working on a mental health start-up.
Keeping the focus on South Asians was important to me because growing up in India I was taught to suppress my feelings. The “good kids don't fuss attitude” that I grew up with nearly broke my soul as an adult. It was only after I moved out and went to therapy I finally saw the faults in ignoring the signs of mental health problems and learnt to prioritise myself without feeling guilty about it.
If you are South Asian you might relate to this. So many of us grow up with our individualities pushed so far down under the pressure of “what will people say” that we lose ourselves. Our traumas are often brushed off and our mental illnesses go undiagnosed. We know something is wrong but we don’t have the tools to rebuild ourselves from experiences that leave us broken.
So that is what I want to do. Arm us with the right tool and resources from experts who understand the nuances of our experience.
Some might ask why does it matter to me if the experts are South Asian or not?
Well, I will let Denzel Washington answer this one
Just watch the first 60 seconds of this video and you will understand why
“It’s culture, not colour”
While I still struggle with choosing what to carry forward and what to leave behind from my cultural learnings. I am hoping this newsletter and the conversations we have can help us all overcome our internalised traumas.
In the coming weeks, all paid subscribers will receive a weekly newsletter with personal stories(mine & others), advice & resources from mental health professionals and invitations to events for subscribers and founding members.
I will also add some links to things that have been interesting reads and generally things that brought some positive energy or humour to my life that week.
This week’s rays of sunshine have been:
This essay by Nicole Zhao in the audacity somehow made me feel seen. The joy of knowing someone on the other side of this planet understand you <3
Reading & Journaling in the sunny churchyard close to my house. Sometimes you can hear the choir
The hilarious Nick Offerman and his donkey thoughts. P.s. I find his voice very calming. Does anyone else, agree? Let me know
Friends who make impromptu plans to get coffee and go to a museum.
Flowers blooming everywhere! Including our house.
Making summer salads and lemony desserts.
This Instagram reel a friend sent me <3
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CVa2XYEFj4q/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
If you would like to hear from me again, do consider becoming a paid subscriber and support our mission.
Thanks again for being a part of a Polite Society.
Talk to you soon,
Ruchie