Embracing Nurturing and Wellbeing in Tobago This March

March marks a special time in Tobago, a chance to focus on nurturing both body and mind while enjoying the island’s natural beauty. As the days grow longer and the weather warms, Tobago offers a unique setting to embrace wellbeing through simple, meaningful practices. This post explores how residents and visitors can make the most of March by prioritizing self-care, connecting with nature, and fostering community wellness.

Peaceful Tobago beach with calm waters and green hills

The Importance of Nurturing in Daily Life

Nurturing is more than just caring for others; it includes taking time to care for yourself. In Tobago, nurturing takes on a natural rhythm influenced by the island’s pace of life and environment. March is an ideal month to slow down and focus on wellbeing because the island’s climate supports outdoor activities and fresh, healthy eating.

• Mental health benefits: Taking time to nurture yourself reduces stress and improves mood.

• Physical health benefits: Activities like walking on the beach or practicing yoga boost fitness and energy.

• Emotional balance: Connecting with nature and community helps build resilience and happiness.

  
  

It is the first of March. Caroline invited me to a coastal walk on Buccoo Bay. The coastal walk ambles between the beach and a mangrove forest featuring plants, flora and fauna packed together in the undergrowth. Many of the tree trunks and roots tangle together and bend over the pathway. Low branches and trailing roots are marked by coloured pieces of cloth. While looking down to prevent a fall provoked by a stray root, I was unfortunate to walk into an overhead branch straddling accross the path. No harm done, as the tree trunk met with my forehead. We walked for an hour, each way punctuated by a short rock climb up to the borderline that meets the path to the boardwalk and no man's land. A huge sign indicates 'PRIVATE PROPERTY'. Surprisingly, having been there, previously, we knew that a few more steps would lead us to the derelict cottage that Princess Margaret used to visit, back in time. The sign provoked thoughts about mysterious stories about the state of the establishment, who now owns it and what will happen to it?

We sat on the roots of the Red peeling tree, overlooking the Turquoise ocean. Caroline graced us with warm Morenga Tea and a breakfast of green figs, fresh calalou and pumpkin. It was yummy. This was a place where we could stretch and breath, set against a tranquil corner of nature. We listened to the silence between each breaking wave. When we were saturated enough by the natural beauty embracing that corner of the island, we climbed down and trundled back along the winding path to meet the ocean and Sunday bathers. The water was cooling and I felt relaxed and nutured by the surf. Not long after we observed 9 horses led by Veronica and Lennon, with a small dog, swimming across the ocean. What a delightful way to start a new month.

Gumbo Limbo (Bursera simaruba), commonly known as the "Naked Indian" tree or "Indian Summer"