Q and A - Better Caribbean Lifestyles

We are launching our Lifestyles Campaign. Before I go asking everyone these questions about how they are living, why they are living that way and what our vision is for the Caribbean - I'm going to ask those questions of myself. The goal of the campaign is simply to build community around the idea that there are many ways to make choices that are better for our health and environment.

Recording of Ariana's Periscope

Highs ~ Vibezier and working together more-er Caribbean. Water melon pep up. Wine.

Lows ~ Casthma and missing earring.

Q. What do you do for a living?

Learn, teach, consult and coach.

Q.Why do you do what you do for a living?

I saw how much the environment in Barbados has changed for the worse between the time I left for college and when I graduated.

I love sharing what I learn. I don't think anyone deserves to suffer through anything - bad health, bad business, bad vibes. I tend to PhD the hec out of everything (training/life experience has led to this, no apologies and I do have a chill level...sometimes) hence why the video above is a much more "expansive" version of this article.

Q. What changes have you made in your life to sustain this living in the past 5 years?

I moved back home to Barbados. We started the Caribbean Sustainability Collective.

Q.What do you eat?

I gradually transitioned to a eating mostly plants aka plant-based aka vegan lifestyle over 4

years. I rather call it a lifestyle than diet because of the negative ideas of what a vegan diet is. I have actually added new and different types of fruits/veggies/herbs in larger quantities to my

lifestyle.

Q.What do you avoid? (Food/Drink/Practices)

I avoid dairy, meat, wheat, soy and alcohol. I avoid toxic and stagnant situations. I avoid any

situations where I can't be true to myself.

Q.Why have you made these lifestyle choices?

I want to represent what I say and what I'm feeling by how I live. I feel the results of my lifestyle changes but I still have a lot to work on - like managing stress. My nephew chews on everything around him, so raising awareness about the hazards of the chemicals in our environment has become even more personal. I have a lot I want to share with him as he grows, so I need him to

stay healthy.

Q.What makes you feel good?

Being in community with people, being on a vibez, being in the water, eating good food

and feeling freedom.

Q.What are you trying to be better at? What are you trying to “better” in your life?

I want to become better at moving my body tehehe :) i.e. I am trying to be better at exercising more - my eating habits spoiled me in that regard because with the food choices I make I

haven't really put on weight or felt too gloshy like I used to. However recently I can feel that good old metabolism train slowing down.

I can also feel the effects of my work which requires me to use the computer for

most of the day and at times I can be very sedentary. This is not my nature so I'm trying to find

ways to be outside more and do more practical movement. I want to become better at making

decisions about how to move myself from toxic /stagnant situations, I want to become better at trusting my intuition.

Q. What is your vision for a Better Caribbean?

A healthier, happier, working together more-er vibezier, self determined Caribbean connected

with vibrant people who believe in themselves, empower themselves and each other. I have a vision of a Caribbean where we are not always looking for someone, thing or gimmick from

outside the region to come to save us.

I want us in the Caribbean to feel more compassion for each other and our realities - more

compassion is required for cooperation to cope and thrive in our realities. We live in a beautiful

place among beautiful people but some of us are on slippery slopes which soil this beauty

while others are on a "heights" which expresses this beauty. We can avoid the slipping, grow

and become "better" by our own definition through learning from and sharing our stories.

We in our complete today self - we are the best we can be today but that doesn't mean we

shouldn't want to become better. Bettering isn't about comparing ourselves but valuing growth,

we grow in some way everyday even if we don't see it. If we reach to be better in someway we will grow....but it does't mean that we look down on our today self (or someone else's today self) to measure our growth.

We just need to look at our reality on a level where we are honest with

ourselves.

My reminder for staying honest is to -

Live in the moment, eyes on future and remain grounded by my past.

#BetterCaribbean