Eccentrically yours

By Manira Ahmad , Chief Officer at Public Health Scotland

I’d like to think I’m a typical Asian woman. A mother to a fast growing young person - what she knows at 10 I only dreamed of in my 20s! A daughter to loving but, at times, over protective parents. A sister to three young, strong, caring men who, at times, act like little boys when it comes to acquiring the title of ‘best uncle’.

However, when I look around me within my own community and network, I am anything but typical and to be honest I love that fact. To me that is my superpower.?

Over time many have gazed into my life and badged my habits as ‘eccentric’ and those not typically associated with young Asian females, even in some branches of my own family tree. Did that stop me, did that make me feel I was doing something wrong? Sadly it did at times. Making me question if, in fact, I had strayed off the righteous path. However, a few stronger women around me gave me the encouragement I needed and became my allies which ignited the true passion of doing what matters to me. Meaning today I can be strong and share this journey which is far from over.

Being a mum and watching the next generation craft their own path gives me hope but also some apprehension. Have we changed the sands of time enough so that our children don’t face the same trials and tribulations that once haunted us??

My natural optimism alongside my belief in a higher power gives me confidence in my belief about what is equitable and helps to shatter boundaries laid down by others who try to inhibit, control and destroy. It’s no longer we can do this, it's we have to do this!

More recently a new found love for DIY has emerged which has helped both my daughter and I through a period of bereavement. My duster and Roomba have been replaced by a spirit level and trowel. I have broken more tiles than I have actually tiled. I have made more nail holes than were probably needed to build the Burj Khalifa. And I have dug up alien-looking pipe joints in order to find the right one! I’ve also been told by tradesmen that I’m “better going back to the day job hen, and leave this to us” (us being the men folk!). All of that has only made me more determined and focused to show the world that not only Asian women but all women can do anything they put their minds to!?

Alongside my so called ‘eccentric’ habits (I have started to own this descriptor), my passion for supporting health and well-being across communities and our nation has propelled me in my role at Public Health Scotland, an organisation whose values embrace equality, diversity and inclusion alongside continued growth and learning to be the best it can.?

We have strong, confident women across the entire structure leading, designing and shining as the strong inspirational women they are. I sit back and reflect on my journey so far, knowing that today I am surrounded both professionally and personally by women from all walks of life, across diverse communities and cultures., I am honoured to be one of them!

On International Women’s Day I would love to hear from anyone for whom any of this strikes a chord. Please do get in touch or add a comment below…the more ‘eccentric’ the better.