All Alone No Place to Go - I Think I'll Head to Mexico

 This is my final post in this blog.  If you have been following along, thank you.  If not, I welcome you to read prior posts and share your thoughts and ideas on my journeys.  

This trip to Mexico City was inspired by emotions.  Losing somebody close to you is hard and there is no easy cure.  If taking a trip to Mexico could heal a broken heart, the country would be overwhelmed with sad souls looking for answers.  I did not expect to be suddenly recovered from grief by visiting Mexico City.  But I learned some things about myself.  Stay with me if you are interested, if not, maybe Facebook is a better place for you.

1. Can I travel alone and not feel lonely?  Those of you who know me well, also understand that during the past ten years of my career and for the five years following, Tennessee and I always traveled together.  We visited places all around the world from Europe to the Middle-East to both North and South-East Asia.   It was great having a travelling companion and she was wonderful.  All she wanted was a comfortable bed to sleep in, a little to eat and to see things she had never seen before.  Tennessee had no expectations when travelling.  She gladly allowed me to take her hand and drag her to whatever destination I had in mind for the day.  If I was working that day, she was quite happy just taking a bath and relaxing.  So now that she is gone I wanted to see what travelling alone was like after fifteen years of having my wife and companion with me.  I learned this is something I can do and not feel lonely - success!
2. Can I speak in Spanish and be understood?  Absolutely!  I may not have fluent Spanish skills, but I was able to converse.  If I did not understand somebody, I simply said "No Entiendo," I don't understand.  If a person spoke too fast, I asked them to slow down.  Some were easier to understand than others, but the same phenomenon exists in my mother tongue English.  Everybody was accommodating.  I met people at the symphony, at the ballet, and on the corner.  I made new friends, some of which I will never see again, while others I remain in contact with.
3. Has my meditation and Yoga practice helped me travel? Without a doubt this travel experience was unlike any other due these ancient and healing practices.  You undoubtedly read the word "mindfulness" throughout this blog.  I have never experienced driving, a flight, airport connections, walking foreign streets, museums, art, ballet and coffee in a café quite like this before.  I was able to thoroughly enjoy this trip. It was different than any other trip in the past because I used a simple technique that has always been available to me "mindfulness."  I watched people in the airport, saw their frustrated an hurried faces.  I stood in immigration lines enjoying the time there because I could soak in the moments and learn from other's frustration and self-suffering. I was mindful of people around me and would strike up a conversation if I could. If I had to wait, I enjoyed the experience.  I employed a tool that all people have available to them. They just choose not to seek it making life and travel more complicated.  It was the first time I felt totally relaxed, at peace and here it is again, mindful.  
4. Can I have compassion for others in the midst of my own grief?  Absolutely!  Through meditation and Yoga practice, an ancient Hindi teaching, we exercise our connection to various chakras.  In the center of our chest is the Heart Chakra.  Prior to this trip I learned that my heart was blocking my connections between chakras.  My flow or Qi in Chinese tradition was blocked by my suffering.  I learned that one mode of healing was to show compassion to others. I am capable of great compassion.  I feel bad for those suffering, and helped where I can.  I had homeless people come sit with me and for a the small cost of a meal and  shared a conversation.  I had more satisfaction talking to a homeless person than most people I met elsewhere.  That is because, the homeless are uncomplicated.  They work all day just looking for a place to sleep at night, even if it is on the street.  I totally changed my perspectives on people in need and my own desire to demonstrate compassion.
5. Can I physically handle the rigors of travel?  Sort of.  Lets face it.  Travel is hard work.  I know not to pack to much and as a result I brought a small suitcase.  But I still packed things I did not need or could do without.  I was also in a lot of upper back pain on the flights to Mexico.  This is something that has been going on for some time.  Now it needs to be addressed.  Until I get this back issue addressed, I might just forgo another trip to Mexico, or just use the clothes on my back and take a few undergarments.  Forget the laptop, I don't need it.
6. Will I travel again.  Yes, of course.  My plan is to explore places in Mexico during the cold Winter moths with the goal of someday living there for at least a year. I'm in no hurry.   I will stay here as long as I have my dogs.  Once the last one has passed I will be on my way if I am able.

As for my friends reading this, have no fear.  I promise to always have my house open and an extra bedroom for you and your dogs when you decide to visit.  It was worth reading along and following this last entry wasn't it? 

How does a vacation to Mexico to visit your old friend sound?