What I’ve Learned From Travelling In Mexico

Travelling invites us into the unknown — new landscapes, new rhythms, new challenges. But perhaps more powerfully, it reveals the lens through which we meet life itself.

Compared to last year’s travels through Malaysia and Korea, which often felt like a string of logistical obstacles and overwhelm, this trip to Mexico has felt like a breath of fresh air. Yes, there’s the heat (and it is extreme), and yes, there have still been bumps. But the internal landscape I’ve brought with me this time has made all the difference.

Last year, especially in Korea, I found myself in survival mode. The unfamiliarity, language barriers, and pressure of navigating constant change left me reactive and disconnected. I was there, but not fully present. I didn’t get to experience the trip because I was too busy trying to manage it.

This time, I came with a different intention. I decided I wanted to feel grounded, to protect my energy, and to be present with whatever unfolds. That one decision has changed everything.

Here’s a great example of how this mindset shift changes how we experience the world. During this trip, in 34-degree heat, I trekked to two laundromats only to be told it would take three days for the wash to be done. I returned to the hotel sweaty and frustrated. I’d asked the front desk, and they’d said there wasn’t one nearby. And with the hotel laundry closed for the weekend, I found myself doing an emergency hand-wash in the sink. (I actually found out after this ordeal that there was a laundromat right behind our hotel the whole time. )

In the past, this would’ve unravelled me. But this time, I chose presence over pressure. 

I reminded myself that even though this isn’t ideal, it’s also not a disaster. That moment, like so many others, became a quiet opportunity to practise grace, to stay steady in myself, and to model that steadiness for my daughter.

There have been other small obstacles to face each day too, such as the relentless search for non-spicy snacks, the hotel room with no fridge, and terrible pillows. But instead of getting overwhelmed, we allowed ourselves to find solutions. We bought an esky. We bought pillows. We found our own small comforts. 

And those little choices created a ripple effect. A good night’s sleep, cold water in the heat, a moment of gratitude for an ice machine outside our door. These details have held more power than any mindset technique ever could.

Why are these small comforts important in the grand scheme of things?

Because energy isn’t just about meditation or journaling. It begins with the basics: physical comfort, nourishment, rest. 

These are the quiet foundations of emotional clarity and inner alignment.

What this trip has taught me is that not everything is in our control, but how we respond always is. 

When we stop tolerating discomfort and start making small, empowered tweaks, we reclaim our agency. Whether it’s adjusting a pillow or adjusting a perspective, tiny shifts can change the entire experience.

Mexico is reminding me that it’s not about avoiding the messiness of life, but about meeting it with calm, with intention, and with self-leadership. And sometimes, that begins with something as simple as a better night’s sleep.