Guide Stars Lessons: Wake and Bake or Wake and Build?
There was a time when adulthood was synonymous with responsibility; a weight carried with pride, a duty embraced without excuse. But now, too often, I watch as young people trade their sharpest hours for a haze, caught in a cycle where the fire of potential dims before it ever fully burns. The irony? They claim control while surrendering it, rolling up a crutch and calling it freedom. And yet, we see the effects… opportunities slipping, ambitions stalling, hands that should be crafting, building, and leading instead caught in the rhythm of ritualized escape. If responsibility is a burden, then who carries it when so many are choosing to be numb?
This is not a sermon against indulgence; everyone has their vices. But let’s not pretend that some habits don’t have consequences; that repeated sedation doesn’t dull the very instincts a man (and woman) needs to forge his path. What good is the hustle if the mind is shackled? What legacy is left when one’s sharpest thoughts are forever postponed? There is a time for everything, and a man who respects his potential must respect his time. If our young men wish to truly claim their manhood, then let them first reclaim their minds.
Listen, I get it. A man has a right to unwind. I’m not here to wag a finger at a nightcap spliff after a long day; your home, your peace, your business. But, bro, 8AM? You’re lighting up before the world has even stretched its arms? 12PM? Midday, when the rest of us are locked in, grinding, pushing, making something of ourselves? And you’re out here trying to smoke yourself sober before 1PM? Come on, king (and Queens). You really can’t wait until you’re home… showered, belly full, feet up, indulging in a good show or a book while you burn one in peace? This ain’t about the weed. It’s about you making it harder for yourself to win.
And that’s the part that bothers me, because I see you. I see the talent, the wit, the drive that could shake mountains if only it weren’t dulled before noon. I’ve watched long enough, observed from the sidelines without judgment. But at some point, somebody’s got to pull you aside and say it plain: Adulthood bears responsibilities. And one of them is knowing the difference between relaxation and self-sabotage.
And to those of us who witness this day after day; the silent observers, the quiet critics who shake their heads but say nothing, I know you feel this too. You see the sharp youth who once spoke about his dreams with fire in his eyes now moving through the day in slow motion. You notice the friend who used to light up a room now only lights up a spliff, his ambition rolled away in the paper. Some of you want to say something, but you don’t want to seem judgmental, don’t want to rock the boat. I get it. But how long will we watch potential go up in smoke before we realize silence is complicity? If we claim to care about our young men and women, then we can’t just watch them drift and offer nothing but a quiet rebuke.
We need all hands on deck. Our nation doesn’t get built on half-efforts and hazy minds. The next YouTube star, the next globally recognized IG personality, the next impactful entrepreneur, they’re here, among us, but they need to be dialed in. They need their wits, their creativity, their drive fully engaged. I know this because I have the privilege of sitting on some committees, working in organizations, and collaborating with some of the most promising young minds in this country. And when we’re disciplined? When we’re locked in? It’s a sight to behold. It challenges me, inspires me, makes me push harder. That’s the Vincy I want us to aspire to; a generation that’s fully present, fully capable, fully ready to take on the world.
Recently, I took this message to the streets, delivering an open-air presentation on the very issue we’re discussing. I emphasized that my concern isn’t about condemning cannabis use outright but about WHEN and HOW it’s being used. The science backs this up. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open examined over 1,000 young adults aged 22 to 36 and found that 63% of heavy lifetime cannabis users exhibited reduced brain activity during working memory tasks. Similarly, 68% of recent users showed the same diminished activity. The focus is on recognizing how our choices directly impact productivity and cognitive sharpness, not on using scare tactics.
After the presentation, several individuals approached me, admitting that while it was a hard truth to swallow, they felt convicted. They recognized the need to channel their energy, to master their habits rather than be mastered by them. It’s not about eliminating what brings you peace but about timing and moderation. We need our young men and women sharp during the day, building, creating, and pushing boundaries. Save the unwinding for when the day’s work is done, when you can truly relax without it costing your potential.
In 2024, Thea LaFond, a triple jumper from Dominica, secured her nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medal with a 15.02-meter leap, proving that even small island athletes can dominate on the world stage. Alongside her, our nations own Shafiqua Maloney, a middle-distance runner, became the first Vincentian to qualify for an Olympic 800m final, finishing with a personal best of 1:57.66. She may not have claimed gold, but she claimed something just as powerful; she inspired our people.
Around the same period, Johanan Dujon, a Saint Lucian entrepreneur, was transforming an environmental crisis into economic opportunity. His company, Algas Organics, the Caribbean’s first indigenous biotech firm, is turning sargassum seaweed into organic fertilizers, tackling pollution while fueling agriculture.
And in 2023, Dr. Trisha Bailey, a Jamaican-born entrepreneur, made history as the wealthiest woman born in Jamaica, building a business empire spanning medical equipment, pharmacies, and real estate. Her journey from humble beginnings to multimillion-dollar success serves as a blueprint for Caribbean minds looking to compete on a global scale.
These weren’t just personal wins; they were proof that when discipline meets ambition, small islands produce giants. The next world champion, billionaire, or innovator? They’re already here. The only question is: Will you step up, or will you sit this one out?
It’s time to have that honest conversation… you know, the one you’ve been dodging for a long time.
