I’m not as sentimental as I should be. I take the fact that I live in
one of the most beautiful countries for granted, I often assume that I
will always have the peace of the ocean crashing against the shore and
the annoyance that comes with seagulls begging for food.
But in
moments when I remember just how lucky I am, I smile. When I think about
the reefs surrounding the white beaches of Peterson’s Cay, The wild
parrots that fly freely throughout the Abaconian islands or the iguanas
that demand the attention of the wildlife surrounding them. I realize,
that this place that I call home, is my peace.
My life would be
incomplete without the fruit vendors that seem to have the most
succulent mangoes in the summer. Where would I be without the divers
that go to the ends of the earth (or the rim of the Atlantic) to get the
biggest conch meant for the best salad. Children shooting marbles in
the streets not caring how hot the sun may be. Our island life is not
without it’s troubles, but with the backdrop of paradise there is an
overwhelming aura that lets you know that everything will be ok.
The
discovery of one’s true self is the real purpose of life and in my home
you are able to go on an adventure everyday that leads you to who you
are.
My Island community consists of former indentured servants
that truly appreciate life and the freedom that should come along with
it. We celebrate this with a festival of colour. Junkanoo, we call it.
If you listen hard enough right now, you can hear the clanging of the
cowbells, the shrill cry of the brass band, the thud of the goatskin
drum. It is your heartbeat that keeps the line in time and if you
listen closely it will take you to a place that you never thought
possible.
Greater men have tried and failed to haggle art pieces
from the vivacious women of the Straw Market. Observe carefully, their
calloused hands evidence of their hard work. They have laboured too long
to sell their precious ornaments to “Mr. So and So” from his fancy
office and will never be afraid to send him away if offered anything
less than what is asked for. These little things are what I live for.
These little things are what my country’s social construct is built on.
Through these things we see our culture manifest itself into an
explosion of all things diverse.
My island nation isn’t just about
palm trees swaying in the wind. It’s about finding the beauty in every
single thing that you see, finding the joy in every situation you
encounter and being able to use your community as a port in the roughest
storm.
Living in The Bahamas I have the privilege to sit on my
favorite rock at my favorite beach and look to the Ocean. She is serene
on most days but choppy and dangerous on others. It is in the ocean
where I see the true beauty of life present itself and through her
aquamarine waters that hold many secrets, I find peace in both my heart
and mind, hoping that others can do the same.
As a Global Shaper, One Young World Ambassador and Global Dignity Country Chair,
Ashleigh Rolle has learned a great deal in her travels. Being a Bahamian native, Ashleigh found herself immersed in her country's politics and finance; she spent her summers working closely with the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation, the Ministry of Youth, the Ministry of Education and the distinguished Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freeport Grand Bahama.Taking a break from her radio show "SipSips with Ash", Ashleigh took the time to travel to various countries with the goal of promoting global dignity. This message was in sync with her national anti-bullying campaigns within the Bahamas. Aside from travelling the world, Ashleigh enjoys horse back riding and fencing. As a lover of life and a true comic at heart, Ashleigh lives by the words of Dr. Seuss “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”