Reclaiming Our Birthright: Moving from Survival to Thriving in the Caribbean

Whether you’re logging in from St. Croix, Dallas, or somewhere else in the world, the sentiment across our Caribbean community is clear: we are tired of just surviving. Our recent sessions of Beyond Survival: Nurturing Wellness So Caribbean People Thrive have sparked a powerful "village vibe," proving that while our resilience is beautiful, it should never come at the cost of our well-being.

Here is a look at what we’ve uncovered so far and why you won't want to miss the sessions ahead.

Session 1: Reclaiming Your Birthright to be Well

We kicked off the series by distinguishing between Wellness—the active daily choices we make—and Well-BEing—the holistic outcome of how we feel about our lives.

• The Research: The data is a stubborn wake-up call. The Caribbean has the highest death rate from heart disease in the Americas, yet a third of our adults are physically inactive—a rate that jumps to 85% for our adolescents.

• The Nature as Medicine Perspective: Roberta Etienne, CEO of Fit4Life and sponsor of the BEyond Survival series, shared how she utilized the therapeutic power of the ocean and sunsets for aqua fitness and guided meditation when traditional gyms were closed.

• Practical Application: We practiced a simple 4-count box breath to lock out the world, show up for ourselves, and create a safe space to focus on our collective wellbeing.

• From the Chat: One participant perfectly captured the mission: "Figuring out how to prioritize me so I can BE."

Session 2: Occupational Wellness—Purpose Over Productivity

Session 2 tackled the grind culture and the myth of the strong worker. We explored how resilience often crosses the line into depletion.

• The Research: Long working hours are the leading cause of occupational deaths in the region. Furthermore, a 2022 study found that 39% of Caribbean healthcare workers have experienced violence in the workplace, highlighting the urgent need for psychologically safe environments.

• Practical Application: We discussed the 888 formula (8 hours sleep, 8 hours work, 8 hours for everything else) and the reality that boundaries aren't 50/50—they are subjective limits you set to protect your peace.

• Key Takeaway: "One shouldn't work to live, or live to work." Finding a healthy balance between life and work is essential to your well-being.

Session 3: Intellectual Wellness—Curiosity is Enough

In our third session, Professor Jay Wiltshire joined us to discuss how community expectations can create a mindset of limitations - by telling us who we are or what we should do- which often shapes how we see ourselves.

• The Research: While our regional literacy rate is high (94.8%), we face an educational crisis regarding foundational critical thinking and numeracy (mathematical) skills.

• The Mindset Shift: We explored Imposter Syndrome, noting that while it is real, our brilliance is even more so. Intellectual wellness isn't just about degrees; it’s about nurturing curiosity and documenting our own cultural stories to combat "brain drain."

• Practical Application: Jay assigned "homework" for participants to evaluate their own intellectual habits, such as humility and autonomy, in the face of new information.

Join the Village: What’s Next?

We are only three weeks into an 11-week transformational journey. The image above shows the schedule of upcoming sessions that will explore other dimensions of wellness.

Don’t pour from an empty cup. Join us every Friday at 12 p.m. AST to fill your cup, nurture your network, and claim your birthright to be well.

How to stay connected:

• Take the Survey: Complete the personal wellness audit on the Xausky Group website, https://www.xausky.com/human.

• Join the BE Packt: Connect with an accountability partner in our new community app,

https://app.heartbeat.chat/bepackt/invitation?code=2BJ5F4.

• Invite a Friend: Wellness is better when we thrive together, https://www.xausky.com/wellness.