Serendipity, Shoes & Sharing
World Mental Health Day . A collaboration between Neena Speding (epoché.com) & Dominic Ciambrone (theshoesurgeon.com) #couragetotalkopenly#40seconds
The dictionary defines ‘serendipity’ as occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way. What you can learn from that ‘chance’ is driven by your frame of mind and I would suggest, should never be underestimated. Let me elaborate…
I met Dominic at Heathrow Airport, by chance our journeys followed the same path for a short while and a conversation ensued. Dominic had just finished a hectic European trip and was looking forward to returning to his family in Los Angeles. Enquiring after me I shared that my life too was a bit ‘hectic’ as I was in the process of completing my learning journey in the neuroscience and psychology of Mental Health. Dominic shared that he had completed a short Vlog on mental health and that I should look it up. I could find it under his tag, he suggested I write it down but there was no need; as a person with a small penchant for the odd shoe or two, I would never forget someone called ‘theshoesurgeon’.
A few days later I watched
Dominic's Vlog
; a short and unique visualisation of a personal journey, that resonated with me. Having myself spent the past 3 years studying and exploring therapies, medications, meditations and neural connections, his Vlog highlighted the innate power of perspectives and how the power in talking openly and sharing shouldn’t be underestimated.
Now it just so happens that, unbeknown to me, Dominic Ciambrone is very well known in certain circles, something he omitted to mention whilst we were talking. My 26-year-old son is in awe of his social media profile and the tag ‘theshoesurgeon’ is a literal translation of just one of the things Dominic gets up to – creating innovations in footwear. He has even combined his passion of art and his mental health journey to design
custom sneakers
to share his story.
So, here’s how I hope Dominic’s and my own positive frame of mind has created an opportunity to promote a shared passion from a simple encounter.
To highlight empathy, develop emotional literacy , reduce stigma and elevate the mental health narrative we ask that you create your own custom shoes: a 2d drawing, an actual shoe, a shoe cloud, a virtual shoe, whichever form you desire, to express your mental health experience and share it through your preferred medium? #couragetotalkopenly.
Whenever you feel you are ready and have the courage to talk openly, we invite you to do so and elucidate how it is to walk in your shoes. From the home to the classroom to the workplace to the board room everyone can be involved. Dominic has even designed a
blank template
that you can use and claim that in part your footwear was created by ‘theshoesurgeon’.
World Mental Health Day is always on October 10th. My encounter with Dominic made me reflect on men's mental health and suicide ; every 40 seconds someone takes their life #40seconds. Men have a higher incidence of suicide and in part this is attributed to not ‘opening up’. For me the message lasts beyond a single day and acts as an acknowledgement that others have and are, navigating their own mental health journeys. Our serendipitous encounter has shown me how Dominic is a great advocate and example of the courage to talk openly and I wanted to share that.
Neena Speding.
MSc Psychology & Neuroscience of Mental Health
MSc Psychological Sciences
MBPsS
Chartered MCIPD
First-class BSc (Hons) HRM, PGCE.
At epoché I am passionate about well-being and psychology beyond just what I do.
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