Dear Readers,
Us Parsis have a unique love language. An “I love you” finds expression starting with, “Have you eaten?” and ends with someone insisting you take another helping home. We welcome guests with full tables, turn up for friends in difficult times and quietly ensure that an elderly neighbour gets what they need. Caring for others comes naturally to us. Caring for ourselvesin a way that truly matters, however, often slips to the bottom of the list.
We remind a parent to take their medicines, accompany a friend to the doctor and worry over a relative’s health. Yet our own check-up can wait until after the next deadline, family function or busy week. We dismiss tiredness, put off a walk and tell ourselves we will rest when things settle down. Somehow, they rarely do.
With World Heart Day approaching on 29thSeptember, maybe it’s time to extend some of that familiar Parsi generosity inwards? I’m not suggesting we give up on dhansakand cheese-omelettes or decline those tempting dinner invitations or suddenly become a fitness enthusiast. It’s about increasing our awareness about ourselves – knowing our health counts, like blood pressure, blood sugar levels and other heart-health risks. It’s about keeping appointments we have postponed and finding a little movement in an ordinary day, whether that means a morning walk, a few extra steps at work or a gentle stroll with a loved one. It’s also about allowing ourselves enough sleep and admitting when we need help.
The World Heart Federation’s ‘Don’t Miss a Beat’ message is a timely reminder to recognise risks and act before a problem becomes an emergency, as further emphasized in our health features this week (Pgs. 9, 15). That message matters in families where one person often carries everyone else’s worries while insisting, with characteristic Bawa confidence, that they are “perfectly fine!”
Our community has long understood that looking after each other is a responsibility. Looking after ourselves belongs to that same tradition. When we protect our health, we give ourselves a better chance of being present for the people we love and for ourselves, in a meaningful way.
This World Heart Day, let each of us choose one change we can sustain, and encourage someone we love to do the same. A big Parsi heart gives so much… let’s do our bit to ensure it doesn’t miss a beat.
Have a good weekend!
– Anahita
- The Many Faces Of Courage - 10 October2026
- When Pride Inspires Purpose - 3 October2026
- The Big Parsi Heart: Don’t Miss A Beat - 27 September2026
