WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:07.360 Hello, everyone, Welcome back to another episode of Let's Talk 2 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:13.560 the Things, where we discuss personal growth, travel, music, beauty 3 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:18.440 and wellness while encouraging you to live fearlessly and fabulously. 4 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:22.719 I'm ash and this week we are talking to Things 5 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:28.800 about something special to all Caribbeans, but especially Caribbean women, 6 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:34.479 the Veranda. Yes you heard that right. We are talking 7 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:38.200 to Things about the magic of the Verandah and how 8 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:41.960 it teaches us a thing or two about wellness, balance 9 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:47.520 and living our best lives. So what exactly does the 10 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:51.960 veranda have to do with wellness? Well? On this episode, 11 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:57.079 we're going to uncover the power of slowing down, reconnecting 12 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:00.880 with ourselves and finding balance, just like we've done for 13 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:07.000 generations on our verandas. So grab your tea, coffee, or 14 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:13.920 a glass of wine and let's talk to Things. Wellness 15 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:18.400 is not a trend. It's a lifestyle. One minute, it's 16 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:23.400 all about detox tea. Next it's tumoric lattes or matcha 17 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:27.280 tea or even jade rollers. But we all know the drill. 18 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:31.359 Trends come and they go, and what works for some 19 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:35.680 may not work for others. In the Caribbean, our approach 20 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:40.480 to wellness has always been simple balance, not to be 21 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:46.560 confused with palants. We've been taught to work hard, yes, 22 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:51.239 but we've also learned the value of resting. Maybe it's 23 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:54.439 a Sunday afternoon when you sit on the veranda sipping 24 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:58.000 some lemonade, watching the rain come down and letting the 25 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:02.480 world slow down for a minute. Or maybe it's those 26 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:06.280 quiet moments at home when you've finished everything on your 27 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.960 to do list and you finally just get a moment 28 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:16.240 to breathe. But somehow, somewhere in this adulthood of ours, 29 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:21.039 we have lost the balance. We started believing that if 30 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:25.360 we weren't busy, we just weren't doing enough. And I'm 31 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:29.719 guilty of it too, trust me. But here's the thing. Wellness, 32 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:34.599 true wellness, has absolutely nothing to do with keeping up 33 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:39.199 with trends. It's about taking care of your body, mind, 34 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:43.840 and soul in a way that works for you. It's 35 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:47.520 about creating a life that feels balanced, even if it 36 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:54.360 means a little messiness along the way. So before we 37 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:59.159 get into wellness, let's talk about the veranda. Now, for 38 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:01.479 those of you whom it may not be familiar, the 39 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:06.159 verandah is a beautiful open space right outside your home. 40 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:10.000 It's more than just a porch. It's a place where 41 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:15.879 we gather, reflect and rest. It's that spot where the 42 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:20.439 outside world meets our home, where the breeze kisses our 43 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:25.199 skin and the sun touches our faces. In fact, I 44 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:29.919 would argue that the verandah is like the original wellness retreat. 45 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:34.120 It's a space that invites us to slow down, take 46 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:38.599 a deep breath, and just be whether you're sipping some 47 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:43.400 ginger tea, chatting with friends, spending quality time with your 48 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:48.000 grandparents or parents, or simply watching the rain pour down. 49 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:51.719 As I said earlier, the Verandah offers us a moment 50 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.960 of pause, a moment many of us forget to take 51 00:03:56.360 --> 00:04:01.719 in the overwhelming rush of life. Unfortunately, in today's world, 52 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:05.199 and just as we get older in general and acquire 53 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:10.159 additional responsibilities, we don't always have time for that for 54 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:15.479 that pause. We're busy chasing deadlines, running from one obligation 55 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:19.879 to the next, and sometimes we forget the importance of 56 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:24.399 slowing down. The veranda teaches us that wellness is not 57 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:28.720 something we have to chase. It's about being present, reconnecting 58 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:32.240 with our surroundings, and letting go of the pressures to 59 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:37.279 always be doing, quote unquote, So what if we could 60 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:41.959 take some time and get a sense of peace, that 61 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:46.800 same Veranda vibe and apply it to our everyday lives. 62 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:51.360 What if we could create a wellness routine that's just 63 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:56.560 as relaxed yet intentional as those slow afternoons we spent 64 00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:03.480 in our childhood or even currently on the variet As 65 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:08.120 Caribbean women, we are known for being resilient, hard working, 66 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:13.680 and always on the goal. But here's the thing. Slowing 67 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:18.720 down is just as important as working hard. I would 68 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:22.680 argue that it's actually more important. I want you to 69 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:26.000 imagine something with me. For a second, You're sitting on 70 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:30.199 your verandah, the sun is setting, the sky is a 71 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:34.920 perfect mix of orange and pink, and there's a soft 72 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:39.560 breeze rustling the leaves. You're sipping on your favorite drink. 73 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:43.800 Maybe it's sorrow, maybe it's a little white rumman ting 74 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:49.120 or a glass of wine, and for once, you're not 75 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:55.319 thinking about anything. You're not thinking about what's next, or 76 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:57.759 what you have to do or your to do list. 77 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:02.399 You're just being. When we take a moment like that 78 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:06.279 for ourselves, when we step out of the chaos and 79 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:10.560 sit in the stillness, it does something magical for our 80 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:15.360 bodies and our minds, and studies have shown that simply 81 00:06:15.399 --> 00:06:18.959 being in nature, for example, or just in a peaceful 82 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:23.279 space like your veranda, can reduce stress, improve your mood, 83 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:28.600 and even boost your immune system. And here's a major key, 84 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:33.680 it's free. The veranda or whatever you have that is 85 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:38.360 similar to a veranda, is a natural wellness sanctuary, and 86 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:42.319 it's available to you any time you need it. Now. 87 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:45.519 I recognize that some persons may live in an apartment, 88 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:52.160 a condo, or a home that doesn't have an outdoor space. However, 89 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:55.720 if you can go somewhere like a wellness resort, or 90 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:59.600 maybe a friend or family member's home who does have one, 91 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:03.360 even once a month, I think it would be well 92 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:07.560 worth it. We've got to learn to let go of 93 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:12.519 that guilt that comes with resting, right, Like that guilty 94 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:15.680 feeling where you know you want to sit down or 95 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.879 you want to take a break, but you just feel 96 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.600 like you're neglecting something. We have to let go of that. 97 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.439 I mean, how many times have you told yourself I 98 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:27.839 don't have time to sit around. You know, we've trained 99 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:31.759 ourselves to feel like we always need to be productive. 100 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:35.519 But guess what no no no no no no no 101 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:41.079 no no no go. So wellness just doesn't work that way. 102 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:46.000 The Veranda vibe reminds us that rest is a part 103 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:50.120 of the process, and when you're not giving yourself permission 104 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:53.959 to slow down, your body starts to scream for it 105 00:07:54.279 --> 00:08:00.240 through headaches, burnout and exhaustion. And that no sound safe. 106 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:07.120 Now let's talk physical wellness because listen, the Veranda isn't 107 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:10.879 just about sitting around all day. It's also about movement. 108 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.800 And I don't mean you need to hit the gym 109 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:17.360 every day unless that's your vibe, of course. I mean 110 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:21.360 that in the Caribbean, movement is really in our bones. 111 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:25.920 It's in our dna, it's in our dance or rhythm 112 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:30.279 and the way we naturally connect to our bodies. Have 113 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.200 you ever sat down in front of a nice play 114 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:37.519 to Akian selfish and for whatever reason feel to dance? 115 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:42.759 Movement is really a significant part of who we are 116 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:47.480 as Caribbean people. When was the last time that you 117 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:51.799 took the time to really appreciate your body and just 118 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:55.279 the ability to be able to walk to your mailbox 119 00:08:55.759 --> 00:09:00.159 or walk to your fridge or get up out of bed. 120 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:05.200 We spend so much time, working, running rons and living 121 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:10.639 for others. But our bodies, our first home, often gets 122 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:15.639 pushed to the side. But not this year. My first 123 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:23.320 tip is to drink water. Minu business hydration. Let's talk 124 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:29.799 about water. I know, I know you're thinking ash please. 125 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.559 Water is not gonna fix everything. I'm so tired of 126 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:37.120 people saying, oh, all I do is drink water and 127 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:40.559 water this and water that. But the truth is your 128 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:44.679 body needs hydration, and anywhere you are in the world, 129 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:49.200 but particularly in the Caribbean, we've got it made. When 130 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:54.039 it comes to natural hydration. There's coconut water, sour sop juice, 131 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:58.559 sugar cane juice. These aren't just for a party, they're 132 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:03.399 the ultimate hydration for your body. Water helps clear up 133 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:08.120 your skin that sounds safe, boost your energy, and keep 134 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:12.519 your body functioning properly. If you're not drinking enough, you 135 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:16.600 might start to feel sluggish, have headaches, or even become 136 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:20.919 a little bit more irritable than usual. And nobody wants 137 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:25.159 to be around somebody that's irritable. So challenge yourself this 138 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:29.000 week by drinking a little bit more water, even if 139 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:31.080 you have to add a little lime to it, or 140 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:36.240 you sip some coconut water to offset regular water, because 141 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.320 I know some people say they don't like the taste. 142 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:40.519 I don't really know what that means, because I didn't 143 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:44.639 know water had to taste, But I understand whatever you 144 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:48.559 can do to be hydrated, do it. The next tip 145 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:53.480 I have is to move your body right. And no, 146 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:56.080 I don't mean spend an hour at the gym unless 147 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:59.200 that's your thing. Like I said, I mean find ways 148 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:02.720 to move that fit into your life. You don't need 149 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:06.799 a fancy membership to get moving. Dance around your host 150 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:10.480 to some old school reggae or soca music, take a 151 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:13.600 walk on the beach or around the block, join a 152 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:18.080 morning jog with friends. Movement is a part of our culture, right, 153 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.639 I mean, think about it. How often do we find 154 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:25.080 ourselves moving to the rhythm of a good song. We 155 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:28.720 have a natural connection to music and dance that we 156 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:33.840 can use as a part of our wellness routine. And last, 157 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:39.279 but not least, rest Rest is just as important as 158 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:44.279 a movement. As I said. As Caribbean women, we often 159 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:50.360 pride ourselves on pushing through even when we're exhausted. But guys, 160 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:53.120 I'm here to tell you if no one has told 161 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:57.919 you yet, rest is not lazy. It is essential. Whether 162 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:01.440 it's taking a nap in the afternoon or just taking 163 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:05.039 a moment for yourself while watching a movie, you know 164 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:09.200 it's part of the process. Your body needs time to 165 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.399 recover and if you're not getting enough rests, it's going 166 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:17.799 to slow down. Stress, fatigue, and burnout are real things, 167 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:21.159 and it's important to acknowledge when your body is telling 168 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:27.120 you I need a break. Remember Veranda vibes. The goal 169 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:30.879 isn't to do everything perfectly or as fast as possible. 170 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:39.320 It's to recharge and feel good inside and out. Now, 171 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:42.559 this is something that I think, and we've talked about 172 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:46.960 it on here, especially in season one and two, that 173 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.720 doesn't get talked about enough in the Caribbean, and that 174 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:55.279 is mental wellness. For years, mental health has been a 175 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:59.360 taboo topic in our culture. We've been taught just to 176 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:03.759 deal with it, to be strong for everyone else, to 177 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:07.679 keep our head high no matter what. But the reality 178 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:12.480 is we can't pretend we're okay when we're not, and 179 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:15.320 as women, we're often taught to get over it or 180 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:20.720 move on, especially in Caribbean culture where there's a lot 181 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:25.480 of focus on being tough. But guess what, It's okay 182 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:30.080 to feel how you're feeling, whether it's joy, sadness, anger, 183 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:34.679 or frustration. Feeling your emotions is part of being human. 184 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:42.879 As a Caribbean woman, we're often juggling so many roles daughter, sister, auntie, friend, partner, 185 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:46.600 and sometimes our mental health is the last thing we 186 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:50.600 think about. But the reality is your mind needs rest 187 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:54.720 just like your body. And the Verandah is a perfect 188 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:59.519 metaphor for mental wellness. Why because it's a space where 189 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:04.679 we disc connect from the noise and reconnect with ourselves. Now, 190 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:08.559 tell me when the last time you spent ten minutes, 191 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:12.720 just ten minutes of your whole day of twenty four hours, 192 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:19.000 sitting quietly, breathing deeply and letting your mind wander. That's 193 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:23.159 the mental wellness power of the veranda. To me, at least, 194 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:26.559 that's how we need to treat ourselves and treat our 195 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:30.960 mental wellness. Take time to check in with yourself. Are 196 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:36.039 you feeling stressed, overwhelmed or anxious again? It's okay not 197 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:39.639 to be. Okay, it's okay to take a mental health day, 198 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:44.440 step outside and just breathe. Our mental well being is 199 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:48.759 just as important as our physical health, and we can't 200 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:56.799 afford to neglect it. Now you're probably saying to yourself, Ash, 201 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:59.879 this sounds great, but how do I bring the ver 202 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:05.120 random vibe into my everyday life. Well, it's simpler than 203 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:10.399 you think. It's not about finding a physical veranda, though, 204 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:13.279 if you're listening to this on one in the Caribbean, 205 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:19.039 I'm very jealous. It's about cultivating moments of peace and 206 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:23.440 stillness throughout your day. So here are three tips that 207 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:29.360 I think could create your daily veranda vibe. Tip number 208 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:35.879 one a morning pause before you dive into the chaos 209 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:42.320 of the day. Take five minutes, close your eyes and breathe. 210 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:48.000 Imagine you're on your veranda, hear the birds, feel the breeze, 211 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:55.679 and just take a moment. Tip number two, move with purpose. 212 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:01.720 Whether it's a walk, a dance session, or a quick stretch, 213 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:07.360 move your body in a way that feels good. Movement 214 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:13.600 isn't just about fitness, it's about feeling alive and last, 215 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:18.200 but not least, Tip number three, before bed, take a 216 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:23.200 moment to reflect on your day. What went well, what didn't, 217 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:27.080 and what do you need to release Before you go 218 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:30.759 to your bed, this is your time to sit on 219 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:34.919 the metaphorical veranda. If you don't have one and just 220 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:43.080 be This was nice and relaxingy, short and sweet, just 221 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:49.960 like me. Wellness Caribbean Style inspired by the power of 222 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:56.679 the Veranda. Remember take time to pause, breathe, and reconnect 223 00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:01.279 with yourself. It's not just a luxury, it's essential for 224 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:06.599 your mind, body, and soul. You are worthy of feeling 225 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:11.839 good inside and out, so take a deep breath, take 226 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:16.519 a break, and take care of yourself because you deserve it. 227 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:23.079 If today's episode resonated with you, share it with your besties, family, 228 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:27.119 or anyone you think needs a little bit of inspiration. 229 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:33.079 And remember, wellness doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming. 230 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.960 It's about creating balance and taking time to take care 231 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.119 of yourself.