As we start off a new year, I wanted to share a few lessons I am carrying with me into 2024. I've taken some time to reflect on the lessons I learnt last year and wanted to share my insights as many of you are currently setting your 2024 intentions. 

There is an art to slowing down

Some of you may have read that and thought, Shenelle it is not that hard - just pick up a book or put on a podcast and just be. Hear me out! I love juggling projects and working on different things at the same time to create my own version of unison. I focused on all the things I wanted to get done this year and spent very little time slowing down. I didn't realize how much I needed time to slow down and reflect until I stumbled upon my very own version of a retreat.

Only three days into my solo visit to my grandma's house in Trinidad and I was going stir-crazy. Before I got to the house, I told myself that I will be present whenever she was around which led me to unintentionally starting a digital detox. A few days in and I couldn’t believe how much I was craving stimulation or even just to leave the house to get some kind of interaction. While I was there I followed her routine - I had breakfast in the hammock watching trees, read an actual newspaper, did some gardening, took an afternoon nap and watched soap operas in the evening. After my stimulation withdrawal period, I eased back into that island pace and started to truly enjoy our days together. I reflected on the hustle lifestyle that surrounds us and how out of place those days spent raking leaves felt. Sometimes we're so caught up in getting stuff done, we rarely take the time to reflect on how we're feeling and why we're even doing all of this.

At the end of 2023, I found myself in a constant go-go-go pace again trying to wrap up everything I intended to finish. Since that time in Trinidad, I went straight back into my routine and focused on pushing through everything on my to-do list. I was right back where I started and I didn't see myself getting there because I was so focused on doing. One trip to Trinidad each year wasn’t enough time to relax and reset, I needed to incorporate small moments of slowing down into my daily routine. This year, I am being more intentional of my mornings so I can take a moment to slow down before jumping into the day. While I have full intentions to juggle new projects this year, I am practicing the art of slowing down.

You will bump into a few lemons

One thing I've learnt about putting myself out there on social media and attending networking events is that you may bump into some lemons. I refer to these people as lemons since I've had sour interactions with them. Putting yourself out there when you're trying to establish yourself is hard - sometimes you don’t have the confidence and knowledge that usually comes with time. So when a lemon comes along at a moment when you don’t feel confident- it can be easy to feel paralyzed to move forward.  

While attending my first conference, I bumped into a lemon who after introducing myself rudely asked "why are you even here?". When you're the only Caribbean person in a room of almost 500 people trying to network- that interaction feels very sour. I could have easily left that interaction thinking, Shenelle you don’t belong here. If I am being really honest, I used everything I had to prevent myself from going there. I was already outside of my comfort zone attending the conference and was learning how to mingle with a crowd at a networking event.

I left the conference with the intention to turn that lemon into lemonade rather than let that interaction paralyze me from moving forward. I felt even more aligned with my purpose of giving a voice to those who are not usually heard. I want to see more people like myself attending those networking events. I want to see Caribbean speakers at those conferences because you cannot be what you cannot see.

If you've read this and had a similar interaction in the past, I truly hope you find inspiration to turn that lemon into lemonade.

There is a beauty in embracing cultures

I find it so beautiful that I grew up on an island that embraced the mixture of people, cultures and religions. Even if you didn't celebrate Diwali, Eid, or Christmas - you were always invited to celebrate with your friends or family that did. You had opportunities to learn about different cultures or religions through mixture of people who lived on the island, at school and even within my village. The village even hosts a play each year portraying the story of good over evil and light over darkness in celebration of Diwali.

Last year I attended my first Catholic mass and baptism - it felt so natural to just jump in, listen, and observe. Sometimes we might feel awkward or out of place to ask questions about different cultures or religions. I believe embracing cultures starts with education. I've shifted my mindset to: I am supporting the people who are here to celebrate. While this may look different to each of you, I encourage anyone reading this to start educating yourself and most importantly to be open to learning. You will realize the beauty in embracing the people, cultures and religions surrounding us.

The takeaway: practice the art of slowing down, turn those lemons into lemonade and embrace the beauty surrounding us.