This idea for rest, despite how elusive it might seem for many, was an important point of growth for Shala. Where corporate and creative spaces define people mainly by what they do for a living, St. Lucia allowed Shala to grow far beyond that.
“I think a big takeaway for me is the importance of cleaning your mind. There's so much distraction out there,” she explained. Her plans for Nicey Farms initially included not having internet access made available to guests. Now, specific rooms can be booked for this exact reason. “I think that's becoming really clear 2020 it is important to not feed into what's going through the phones and the computers. It's important to have your own thoughts and to make your own mind and to be able to decipher that.”
With Nicey Farms, Shala has been able to carve a space out for herself, and in pre-pandemic days, her guests to explore the island’s lush landscape. Still, she has further plans for growth. “We have this other plot of land by the river and my vision is to have a meditation retreat, almost like the garden of eden there,” she shared. “It just has this sense of peace and calm, so I want to create a space where other people can come in and enjoy that.”
For Monroque, holding space for her wants and needs was the key to finding herself, staying in tune with her own goals in a way that fortifies. “I wanted to know that I could create something for myself by myself,” she explained. “And I've done that, and I did it the hard way deliberately. That has given me a lot more confidence.”