Hajni Simon

In This Together 💚

In This Together 💚

When I speak about taking part in this charity event for mental health, a lot of what I share is about my own journey — how my life was turned upside down when I started struggling at work and didn’t understand what was happening to me.

I was just beginning my perimenopausal journey, experiencing migraines and so many other symptoms. My mental health began to suffer, my anxiety became overwhelming, and honestly, I didn’t know where to turn or where to put myself.

But this isn’t only about me.

I’m also doing every step of this for my mum.

My mum has been fighting her own battle for many, many years. Her health has deteriorated to the point where she hasn’t been able to leave the house for years. She has had to close herself away from so much of the world, and watching someone you love go through that is incredibly difficult.

Years ago, I left my family and moved to a country where I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know the language, I had no friends to rely on, and I had to build a life from nothing.

I’ve now been in this country for 20 years.

I’ve had my own battles along the way. I’ve lost friends, I’ve missed family, and I’ve carried the sadness of being so far away from the people I love. But I kept going.

I did it because I wanted to be able to help my mum in whatever small way I could — to give her some comfort, to support her, and to make her life just a little bit easier wherever I could.

I tried my very best to see my family as much as I could throughout all these years, even though being so far away was never easy. I gave what I could, when I could, without ever really knowing how much all of this would eventually affect my own mental health.

And now, I’m finally learning to acknowledge that too.

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’m proud that I made a life in a country where, at the beginning, I knew nobody and had nobody to lean on. I’m proud that I kept going through the difficult times.

But am I sad about everything I’ve lost along the way?

Of course I am.

I miss my family. I miss the people I left behind. And sometimes I grieve for the life I might have had if things had been different.

I started taking baby steps towards feeling better, but something I never imagined would be so difficult became one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced.

Throughout this journey, the people around me have made such a difference. The customers at my workplace lift me up every day with their kindness and support. My friend has been there for me every step of the way — through the good days and the difficult ones — always encouraging me to keep going, whether I was moving forward or taking a step backwards.

I’m normally a very happy, cheerful and full-of-life person, but during this time, I didn’t always feel like myself.

That’s why I decided to take part in this charity event.

I’m doing it for myself.
I’m doing it for my mum.
And I’m doing it for everyone who has struggled silently and felt like they had nowhere to turn.

I want to help raise awareness, support others and hopefully help more people get the help they need.

Most importantly, I want people to know that it’s okay to speak up when you’re struggling. You don’t have to go through it alone.

Sometimes that first little step is simply saying, “I’m not okay.”

And that one sentence can be the beginning of something better.

Let’s be there for each other. Let’s listen without judgement. Let’s remind one another that asking for help isn’t a weakness — it’s a sign of strength. ❤️

So when I take every step on Sunday, it won’t just be for me.

Every step will be for my mum.
For my family.
For everyone who has struggled silently.
For everyone who has felt alone.
And for anyone who needs to know that they are not alone.

I may have lost a lot along the way, but I’m still here.
I’m still standing.
I’m still trying.

And I’m still taking that next step. 💚

We’re in this together.