Encanto: Reflections on My Time in Mexico

Last May, my friend texted me out of the blue and said “Hey, want to go to Peru?” I said yes and three hours later we had plane tickets!  

About a month later, she texted again and said, “Hey, do you care if two of my friends from the barn come with us?” Of course, I said, “No, not at all! The more the merrier.” And a trip with 4 girls began to be planned.

Well, fast forward 7 months and right before Christmas we realized that Peru was off the table due to political turmoil. It was a month before our trip and we all had plans to take off from work, so we pivoted and rebooked our flights to Mexico!

We last-minute-planned an 8-day trip. Fly into Mexico City and spend 4 days, take an in-country flight to Cancun, drive to Tulum and spend 4 days.

My first words after coming home?

It was magical.

Rather than list everything I saw (which was SO many things, including one of the Seven Wonders of the World) or every incredible person I met or the best tacos I ate (how could I possibly choose?!) or how I did not interact with an American for 8 days (other than the girls I traveled with) and it was amazing, I thought I would share some of my deep reflections while out of my normal zone of daily activity.

And if you really need to know the sights or places to eat, feel free to send me a message and I’ll tell you everything we did that I would recommend!

Ok, here goes nothing.

My greatest lesson while traveling through Mexico was about the Law of Giving and Receiving. Being willing to let go and simultaneously receive the romance of life.

The people of Mexico often have so little. They hustle and they make it work, selling their goods and handmade crafts on the streets and in markets. Their life is not luxurious to some standards, and yet, they are some of the most generous people and resilient spirits I have ever met.

So many of us fear losing anything. Our belongings, our passports, our money, our homes, our health, our close relationships.

The truth is that everything we own or identify with on this earth is just borrowed anyways. And this includes time.

Nothing is guaranteed. We are not taking anything with us when we leave this lifetime.

It does not mean that we should not want certain things like comfort or money or exceptional relationships.

To the contrary.

I believe we came here to experience the fullness of life. But we lose the opportunity to experience the wonder when we attach our identity to something outside of ourselves. When what we own or love owns us, we stop experiencing the beauty. 

I guess what I am saying is that the people who are experiencing the fullness of life are the ones who take the time to have breakfast with their family before setting up shop for the day. The ones who take a moment to notice the splendor in the way the sun rays hit the shadows. The ones who give more than they take.

Life is not as complicated as we make it out to be. We do not need as much as we think we do. We’re always protected anyways.

On our last day in Mexico, which we reserved for relaxing at the beach in Tulum, I was be-bopping in the ocean, feeling the push and pull of the waves and thought how much that emulates life. Give, take. Let go, receive. But all the while encompassed in the unending presence of love.

My trip in Mexico had me asking myself questions like:

What do you really do, Em?

How do you really serve?

Do you see the wonder and joy in your average daily life at home?

Intellectually, I know that this is the point of travel. To see different things, to be inspired, to meet new people, to expand your horizons and perspectives.

But we’re usually not going to do that by going to resorts or sitting by the hotel pool.

In America, we have normalized overworking, over-accomplishing, burning out and then spending 5 days a year “relaxing” at a pool.

And we are missing so much of life.

The Mexican people that I witnessed are not going on vacations, but they are starting work at 10 am and closing shop at 5 pm. They are generous with their belongings. They bring their kids to work.

Who is really leading a “richer” life?

My lesson from my trip to Mexico was to release the notion of lack. It does not exist.

Let’s be honest, there are many times in life when we get pushed to our edges.

We start asking ourselves things like:

How will this work out?

Will we have enough?

Will I be loved?

How can we possibly get it all done?

But these moments of being pushed to our edges are opportunities.

The Universe is giving us the option to strengthen.

To choose faith over fear.

To remember the wonder, the magic and the feeling of “Wow, WTF just happened.”

Because of the human condition, we think that disbelief should be feared.

But I think it is the opposite.

Our disbelief can be used for our good. For our strengthening.

It’s the Universe’s way of asking, “Will you give up that easily?”

And the answer, of course, is absolutely not.

Will you instead choose to lean into disbelief? To lean into and blow up your self-imposed limits that occasionally pop up.

Because I think that God likes to make us smile in disbelief sometimes.

To remind us of –

Awe.

Trust.

Wonder.

Magic.

And the enchantment that wraps up every square inch of our existence. 

Xoxo,

Em