Until recently I had never considered leaving the United States to live somewhere else.
My father is from Jamaica, so I’ve always had a connection to the island, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I first came here.
I was blown away by the culture, the food, and the joy of being surrounded by so many family and new friends. This spring I took the leap and moved to Negril, Jamaica with my two youngest children.
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After returning to the United States, I became sick frequently and had high blood pressure. Over the past few months, to my surprise and delight, my stress has decreased and I’ve become healthier by following the example of vibrant seniors in my community.
Overall, I feel like I have a better chance of longevity here.
Here are the most important lessons I’ve learned from working with older adults in the community:
They spend most of their time outdoors
One of my neighbors, who is in his 60s, can do backflips and often climbs trees to pick fruits. He is just one example Vibrant old people in my area.
Many people like me wash their clothes by hand and hang them on a string. People devote a lot of time to tending their gardens.
I work outside almost all day. I’ve tried doing this in the US, but once the seasons change I’ll go back and may or may not come out again.
But thanks to the mild climate here all year round, my balcony “office” is always open.
They stay active and walk around
In hindsight, I think America’s reliance on cars Making it harder for me to enjoy nature and the company of others.
In North Carolina, everything from pharmacies to fast food restaurants is drive-thru. Because of the way my town is designed, everyone relies on vehicles. In America, I drive everywhere, including taking my daughter to daycare even though it’s right down the street.
In my neighborhood in Negril, Most people, especially older people, walk and use public transportation to get around and run errands.
I’ve been walking a lot more since I’ve been here and most days I stroll to the shops. Jamaica also has a lot of hills and mountains, so you’ll often have to climb. This is very positive for my health.
They eat fresh and unprocessed food
The food here is great, especially the produce. Fruit trees can be seen everywhere, There are so many kinds of fresh vegetables.
To me, food in Jamaica tastes different than food in America, it’s not super processed, it’s not overly salty or sweet. I don’t eat traditional fast food here, although there are restaurants that offer it. I prefer to go to local skilled vendors to try some of their wares.
You don’t have to go far to find someone selling delicious, healthy and cheap food, whether it’s freshly caught fish, porridge, lovely cold coconut, or some of my favorite dishes like grilled chicken, braised pork, overlord beef and beef patties.
They know community matters
You will often see people, especially older people, chatting, playing dominoes or Rudy, and laughing together. When people feel sick, neighbors share their favorite herbs.
In the United States, I rarely see anyone near my home. I only knew four of my neighbors on the street, and I lived in that house for seven years. I would see people passing by and wave, but then we would go back to our lives.
It’s weird not knowing or talking to the neighbors here. Every time I see my neighbors in Jamaica, we sit and chat.
They embrace a slower pace
It wasn’t until we left that I realized how high-stress and individualistic the culture in America is. I’m on autopilot every day.
The pace of life on the island forced me to slow down, start paying attention to my feelings, and challenged my beliefs about what life should be. Moving changed my daily routine, freeing me from daily stress and allowing me to create a new reality.
Small changes definitely add up, and getting out of my comfort zone helps me stick to these new habits and get better.
Tiffany Grant is a financial educator, author, podcaster, and coach. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Tiffany was a HR professionals. She is the creator and host of the show “Talking to Tiff about money”, a certified financial advisor and holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
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