Pick Six: Rastarella Music Programmer & Community Engagement Expert at Cultural Vibrations (Unity Through Music)

Song: Your Spirit by Tasha Cobbs Leonard 

One of my favourite songs of recent times and my daily meditation in music form! I find gospel music extremely uplifting and heart nourishing. This song and its lyrics, hits the spot. I consider myself to be a very spiritual person (rather than religious) and I do believe deeply in a higher power. This song resonates with me due to what I have overcome in my life and my deep rooted belief in holding on to faith rather than surrendering to fear.

Personal hero: Dr Maya Angelou

A  poet and civil rights activist, I have loved the work of Dr Maya Angelou since I was a teenager in the 90s. I first came across her while watching the Oprah Winfrey Show where I heard her speak about her abusive childhood and it resonated deeply within me. She was a survivor just like me. From that point onwards I have read her books and been inspired by her words and resilient commanding spirit. My favourite poems of hers are Phenomenal Woman, A brave and startling truth and Still I Rise. One of my favourite quotes of Dr Maya Angelou is this one 

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because, without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently”. Because I do consider myself to be a very courageous person. Dr Maya Angelou is my spiritual grandmother in my world.

Holiday destination: Tobago

My favourite place in the whole world that I continue to visit time and time again is Tobago, which is the smaller twin sister island of my country of birth, Trinidad. It is a very much a slow-paced, chilled and unspoiled island in the southern Caribbean. There are no big resorts and the island is still very much the place to experience simple island life surrounded by beautiful beaches, greenery and really friendly locals. My dream is to one day own a holiday home in Tobago. I love, love, love the vibe of the island. Capital T for Tranquil!

Notts Spot: Eden Hall Day Spa

My favourite place is Eden Hall Day Spa in Elston, near Newark. I love going on their spa days because you can enter from 9am and stay until 6pm. One of my favourite things to do in life is to relax and spend time in peaceful surroundings, Eden Hall ticks all my boxes. It’s not too far from my home in St Anns and the facilities are top notch and it never ever feels too busy or rushed. This is my go to place to simply reset and take a break from my daily busy life.

Meal: Chef’s Hut Jamaican Takeaway 

A firm favourite for many members of the Jamaican diaspora in Notts, Chef’s Hut is run by Chef Mikey who is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. The shop sells a variety of well known Jamaican dishes with no compromise on the authentic taste and seasoning of his food, making his takeaway a very popular place for Caribbean folk as well as many locals. The vegan section of his menu is delicious and portion sizes are very good value. You can eat in and children portion sizes are available. I am from Trinidad but when I eat from Chef’s Hut, I do feel slightly Jamaican inside: that’s how good his food is. Yeah man!

Book: A Deep Breath Of Life by Alan Cohen 

This book has been a daily read of mine for about six years now. Each page is dedicated to a different date of the year, with an inspirational short story followed by a short quote for you to read and take into each new day. I find that it gives me a few minutes each morning to set my mindset in a positive tone for the day and helps me reflect on my past experience. This is not a self help book but more a daily reminder to have an attitude to gratitude and live in the moment. 

@culturalvibrations