Simple pleasures in Mexico City

Happy T.O. day!

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Experience in Mexico City, Mexico

Walking through Coyoacán

Around this time last year, I embarked on my first international solo trip.

I remember sitting on the plane, nervous and excited.

What would I do? Who would I meet? The possibilities were endless.

And the trip delivered — changing the way I view the world.

But my favorite memory, and the day that replays as a highlight reel in my mind, is the day I spent wandering through Coyoacán.

I was determined to use public transit during my time in Mexico City.

The nearest metro station was closed, so I needed to take a bus to the next closest station.

Over the course of 2 hours, I asked multiple people for directions, got cash from an ATM, bought a metro card, frantically walked around the square looking for the right bus stop, and finally got on the right bus to the station.

By the time I got off at Coyoacán, I was exhausted, but still, determined to explore.

As I walked through the area that surrounded the station, I was losing hope that the destination would be worth my while.

But I crossed under an overpass, and life slowed down.

I found a park.

I went in and sat down in a beautiful shaded area.

I stayed for a while, thinking, writing, and enjoying my environment.

Feeling refreshed and ready for more, I grabbed lunch and walked over to the local art market.

As I circled the market, I stumbled across a man painting beautiful scenes from around Mexico.

I purchased one that called to me after a pleasant Spanglish exchange and headed on my way.

The logical next step was to grab a churro, which I enjoyed in the main square as I took in the sights.

Then I explored some more.

I walked down cobblestone streets alone with my thoughts.

It was lovely. The neighborhood was beautiful.

And quiet.

Eventually, my feet grew tired and I headed back to the hostel.

Although I was tired, I was excited in a way that encapsulated both the challenges and rewards of the day.

A feeling I’ve come to love as I travel the world.

Weekly Write-up

I had an interesting conversation in therapy this week that I found worth digging into a bit more.

In discussing my confusion and impatience with the direction of my 9-5 and personal work, my therapist mentioned that I was ignoring a lot of the progress that I had made.

She then asked me, “What would it look like if you were to just enjoy this present moment?”

What a beautiful question.

This question led us into a conversation around presence and the being mind vs the doing mind.

You see, achievement-oriented individuals can easily get caught up in the doing mind.

The doing mind is task-focused and is optimized for progress.

As long as there is progress to be made, the doing mind will suck you into that unbearable gap between where you are now and where you want to go.

You’ll find yourself ignoring how far you’ve come while focusing on all of the work that lies ahead of you.

It’s a bit daunting.

The being mind, on the other hand, is optimized for presence.

When we live in the moment, we let go of expectations. We create space for new thoughts, feelings, and opportunities.

We are no longer burdened by the work that lies ahead, we are simply here, now, enjoying the present with gratitude for what got us here.

So what would it look like If I were to just enjoy the present moment?

Well, I’d let go of internal and external expectations.

I’d appreciate the opportunity that lies in whatever I may be in the middle of.

And I’d be grateful for all that has come my way, and all I have created for myself.

There’s a lot to be grateful for.

This concept, of course, applies to travel as well.

It can be easy to get caught up in all there is to see and do in a new place.

But the way to enjoy the experience the most is to slow down, be present, and create an open space for life-changing experiences.

So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed and bogged down, or maybe you’re not giving yourself the credit you deserve,

ask yourself, “What would it look like if I were to just enjoy the present moment?”

Airplane Content

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

This is a book recommendation that I’ve given to many of my close friends and family because it is the single most impactful book I’ve read in my life. The book is all about mastering your ego, putting it aside, and getting out of your own way. A great airplane read as you head off to a new destination. 🤗 

AI Travel Art Piece of the Week

In honor of booking my next international trip to Iceland, here is the Mariokart gang racing along Iceland’s Ring Road.

Cheers ‘til next week,

T.O.