So I shall firstly dive into my blissful trip to Barbados. Not only was this a perfect and pressing time to rebalance, but also awesome to reconnect to that emotional love and support of my superb family. I have been away for eight months, working, exploring and loving every experience that has come my way (yes, even the tricky ones (?!) thanks to my calmer mindset, enthusiasm to problem solve and yearn to properly navigate all interiors of my being). Nevertheless being a heart-centred individual, it hasn't been without its woes. I craved that rekindling and now reflecting back, sitting in Miami airport, I feel truly nourished again. Family eh? I'm a lucky bugger!
Google tells no lie when representing The Caribbean...completely serene and welcoming, with an abundance of raw and fresh beauty, calm and calming, bright in all shades of colour and (in soft terms) its contagious lifestyle flow. You can utterly slip into every moment forgetting all your worries- a natural tonic. Other than the groovy images from my Instagram, below is an attempted repertoire of the island's beauty. As a committed and ever-curious reader of happiness, wellbeing, humanitarian and personal development themes, I can declare why a sustained trip like that was fruitful and soul satisfying (after these images):
(sailing the West Coast on Calabaza 2)
2) The small size of the island which you can drive across in under and hour- it feels local, humane, comfortable, scalable, possessing fewer unknowns in comparison to vast open territories or big cities. As a human you feel part of something there, not just another dot in an ocean.
3) Limited choice - this sounds odd, but in fact I'm a firm believer that choice is one of the hidden modern devil's of society. Too much choice can have profound negative effects such as overconsumption, ungratefulness, indecisiveness (amen! still perfecting this skill) and greed. I mean choice is a fabulous opportunity to have access to, don't get me wrong, but in the context whereby one is aware of it and themselves in a consumption-driven world. It frequently comes at a cost and doesn't suit everyone...
Referring to choice I mean in terms of trade outlets, retail range, eating and drinking culture destinations and adventure activities. I think Barbados has a larger draw and purpose for its unwinding qualities, inviting an admiration for how it exists without too many add-ons. Tourism is a substantial sector there, but its not too overbearing and isn't shoved in your face. :)
4) Colour. Colour and brightness is soooooo often taken for granted! It can have a wonderful impact on health and wellbeing, the vividness of your memories and the boosted yearn to rise and embrace the day! Who doesn't like being warm with tingling skin from that authentic vitamin D flying around like a glitter bomb? Thank you sunshine for the spectrum you allow us to absorb and enable us to create fabulous (mental and social media worthy) imagery. I woke up daily with a beam on my face and a little spring in my step.
5) The ocean. It's one of (closely following peanut butter) my favourite things on earth. In the Caribbean it's like no other. A jewel-coloured plane of infinity. It's peaceful on the West coast of the island and everyday it let me swim unharmed, leaving me even more relaxed than before I dove in. It tops any sea I've seen so far! We had a local turtle (about the size of a coffee table) we hung out with daily as well, that just swam about our shins in a few feet of water.
The ocean is also a wonderful way of understanding how amazing and huge Mother Nature is without getting preached to (excuse the written preach). You lay in it, gaze, swim, think and feel all at once. It's like meditation- mind, body and soul reconnect in the act. It allows you to see all the things you love in the world so clearly. It's also a really good skin healer- whoop!
6) The simple life. This is a good mechanic to allow you to appreciate contrast and escape busy normal life in cities (if you have that lifestyle of course). They're both wonderful in their own right, but sometimes you need a time out to shed the routine, and gain objectivity to see in on what you have. :)
7) Slower pace. Part of mindfulness practice is built on slower-paced appreciation, quality, single-task occurrences, and being consumed in a moment, which allows you to record and note life more fully as it unfolds in the present. Your mind is simultaneous with the activity and with reduced multitasking, fewer commitments and no rush, there's little frenzy and less worry! Yay to a happy mind.
(Above and below: East Coast^ the choppier, surfer side of the island)
(the view from the top of a hill in Bathsheba, onlooking the East Coast below)
(Sunset at our local beach, Schooner Bay below)
Overall you don't have to do much on holiday to feel good but experience 'place,' in my opinion (and coming from an archi/urbanism background). True place; viewing, strolling, tripping the land and embracing the climate, seeing the locals, thinking about how they live, thinking about what makes a place special and participating in basic activity can give you an enriched sense of another part of the world. It makes it ten times better sharing it with special people!
('Just strolling.' My favourite colour, painting the juicy-fresh landscape ^)
(perfect framing of the daily view out to sea, Lonestar^)
(Mullins wall^)
(mighty Bridgetown, docklands and capital city^)
(Beach Front Hotel external open space, ^ wowie!)
Awaiting various snorkelling images from our sailing day!
AND Stay tuned, I'm still on the move...
