Why I am never bored in Anguilla!

Anguilla! It is truly ‘one of a kind.’ It is my island home.

I actually wanted to start another blog focusing on ‘Why I love Anguilla’ but then I had to take a step back and say...girl you are way too busy...focus on what you are currently involved in now. I will start that blog though eventually!

I was speaking to a friend and I asked what should I blog about today. She suggested blogging about why so many Anguillians cannot swim and do not go out to enjoy our beaches while visitors come from so far away to enjoy our beaches and swim and dive in our azure blue waters.

So why is that? I guess it boils down to the fact that most of us do not appreciate what is right in front us. I have lived in North America and in the United Kingdom and yes there are things in these countries which I like and certainly things I dislike but honest to God, for me, there is nowhere like home.

Where else would a rooster be crowing in the middle of the night when dawn is still hours away? Where else can I sit on the porch and enjoy the wonders and beauty of the stars which are not obstructed in any way at all by sky scrapers or pollution. Where else do I have the right and the privilege to enjoy 33 beautiful beaches any day, anytime, anywhere and where else would I have the choice of a five star restaurant or a local road side bistro all within fifteen minutes drive?

I very fondly remember my childhood growing up in Anguilla. I don’t ever remember being bored. My cousins, my neighbours, my friends...someone was always around. I remember going through the bush looking for popes and berries with my cousins, long drives to East End on the back of a pick up to climb trees and pick mangoes on our land there, flying kites, playing marbles, playing catching and dolly house and of course the picnics on the beach (I dreaded washing my hair though and still do!).

As an adult, Anguilla is still this wonderful place where I am never bored. So outside of the myriad of activities which I engage in during my volunteer and professional life, my favourite Anguillian experiences in recent times are

1)      Watching my boyfriend pick coconuts and then watching him cut them out. By this time, my young neighbours Liha and Nari would have made their way over to my yard. I would listen to them chatter and we would all enjoy some coconut water and jelly. Yummy and refreshing!

2)      Hanging out with my family and friends....whether it is a movie night, games night, picnic, fish fry, barbeque or breakfast or dinner at a top class restaurant, we always have a great time.

3)      Hikes and excursions with the National Trust. Anguilla and its neighbouring cays are amazingly beautiful and thanks to Farah and her team I have enjoyed some terrific, exciting and sometimes sobering experiences!

4)      Sunsets and Sunrises on the beach – whether or not I am swimming as I indicated in a previous blog, walking on the beach and watching the sea relaxes me. Sharing this experience with a loved one doubles the pleasure.

5)      Music and talking, laughing and dancing under the stars and the good thing about Anguilla is that the stars are visible from everywhere.

So that’s my list – these days I am pretty low key but if you are looking for more activity, I know there are terrific local acts and parties in and around the island amongst many other things. My point is we all just need to get out more and to appreciate what we do have. Take the word ‘bored’ out of your vocabulary. 

Anguilla isn’t perfect and the recent criminal activities will continue to affect all of us if we don’t speak out. We have always marketed Anguilla as virtually having no crime. Outside of the tourists personally, I want to be able to continue to enjoy this island paradise without fear. What about you?

So what are your favourite childhood memories growing up in Anguilla and what Anguillian experiences do you enjoy most today? Post a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you. Say yes to not being bored today!

Staying Positive when Dealing with the Unexpected!

Hi everyone

I would like to apologise for the extended period without a post. I was on vacation with limited access to email. On top of that I got stuck in a neighbouring island for a couple of days due to the passage of Hurricane Irene.

Vacations are a wonderful way to regroup and refocus. They don’t have to be expensive either! Earlier this year, I had a staycation (stay at home vacation) and it was fabulous. You should try it!

Vacations like everything in life do not always go smoothly and how we deal with a situation when it doesn’t go as planned says a lot about us. For example, lost luggage, hurricanes, and missed flights – how do we deal with it all?

I have learnt and I am still learning that when things don’t go my way – my best response is to take a couple of deep breaths, stay calm and positive and try to figure out the best way forward. Keep in mind that a negative attitude, disruptive behaviour or abusive language is seldom an ideal or productive response.

So yesterday after being stuck for three days (with some good times and bad ones) our 9-seater plane took off in the middle of the rain, thunder and lightning. In addition to a good pilot,  it took a positive attitude, some deep breaths, a quick prayer and plenty of nervous laughter and thankfully we made it safely back to Anguilla.

I love vacations but it is really good to be home.