A FEW days ago, I experienced one of the most magnificent sunrises on my patio. I felt a positive energy entering my mind, body and soul. I dashed back into the house to get my phone to capture the sunrise. The picture below did not do justice to what my eyes beheld. I decided to start my day by looking at the sunset and drinking tea, and listening to ‘To God be the Glory’ by Kelly Price. I remember similar experiences from my aunt Brenda’s patio and the beach in Bartica. Priceless! These are moments that contribute to our wellness and well-being.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, wellness is ‘the state of being healthy, especially when you actively try to achieve this.” Well-being, on the other hand, is considered “general health and happiness, a state of emotional/physical/psychological well-being”. May is mental health awareness month, and I think the attention being placed on good mental health is on the rise worldwide. Going through the pandemic for over two years affected many people’s mental health. We had to find creative ways to deal with all the challenges while finding that centre. I feel fortunate to have a supportive, loving family, a few friends I can count on and a career I absolutely love.

Although I have these things, I still need to intentionally continue doing the things for my mindset to be in the right space. I know it is a blessing to have the option to have my office on my patio surrounded by plants and fresh breeze. Nature can generate many positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity and can facilitate concentration. Nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of poor mental health, in particular lower depression and anxiety levels. I also have calming music in the background.

On many occasions, I have had people who called me and made reference to my background music and how calm they were just listening through the phone. We have the power to decide the world we want to live in and the people in that world. People who are close to me have heard my dream about living on a farm, and I am very serious.

I was recently in my hometown Bartica and was invited to lunch by my high school buddy Christopher Shewram, his wife Rhonda and kids. My friend cooked a very special meal for me, and he has no idea how much that meant to me. I am so proud of the family man he has become because it is important for children to have a relationship with both parents. We had great times in high school, and I remember Chris as one of my genuine friends. There was a time we did not see each other for years, but we remained very good friends. During our conversation, he mentioned that he had a friend that has a farm not very far from where he lives, and I suggested we go. That was one of the highlights of that trip home.

Mr and Mrs Premdat Soamnauth, who own the farm, were very hospitable during and after the grand tour. Imagine stopping by the coconut tree and selecting the coconut or pine you desire and eating it immediately. I have not eaten cocoa in years, and this certainly brought back memories of sitting in my cousin’s yard with her kids, sucking on cocoa pods until our tongues were blistered. We enjoyed not only the pods but also the chocolate sticks that made our delicious cocoa possible. I stood for a few minutes in a breezy area under a shade, and I felt like camping out there for a week. I suggested a bush cook on the farm on my next trip, and the entire crew loved the idea.

I have many reasons to go back soon, and that is one of them. The air felt so fresh, and it felt different, and I enjoy it differently and it kept me in the present, and it felt amazing. We were picking “coriyou” (not sure if it is the correct spelling ), which is a fruit I love, from under the tree. With no knives available, I did what we did as children growing up in Bartica. I took the hard skin off with my teeth, lol! Memories, memories, memories! They certainly don’t leave as people do. I love to chat with people who are passionate about what they do, and Premdat is a master farmer who takes pride in explaining what he does and why he does it, which inspired me to live on a farm. You would not believe the organic farm produce I left with. I had enough that I shared in Bartica and when I got back to the city.

Some take for granted the simple things that we are fortunate to do in Guyana that can contribute significantly to our health and wellness. My foundation held an event in collaboration with the National Library on “Finding your Centre” – A discussion on wellness and well-being, on May 20 at the National Library.

Let’s remind ourselves and the people around us of the importance of our well-being as we celebrate this journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.