🇲🇽 Axoltla, CDMX - 08.14.24

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”

- Marcus Aurelius

I’ve been wedging in some stoic philosophies to validate the nomadic life equation. Here’s a snip-it from the web; “According to Stoic thought, enduring hardship and suffering is a test of character. It’s in the crucible of life’s challenges that virtues such as resilience, courage, and integrity are forged. Marcus Aurelius, in his meditations, often reflected on how obstacles in life serve as a means to practice virtues.”

I had some moments of reluctance leaving the lovely beach life of Southern California. The coastal side maintains an ideal temperature despite the hovering heat wave. I like to stroll along the shores of the Pacific. Sand hiking I guess… People Iove the beach. I don’t… or didn’t… quite get setting up for the day in the sand… hauling out a bunch of gear, and just sitting under an umbrella all day.

I never been much of a ‘beach sitter’… but I’m quickly becoming one. I now have a set up; beach chair, beach blanket, travel umbrella, and a backpack to carry all. Water, snacks, a book, and handfuls of sunscreen. I go to Torrence Beach… park… then walk a 1/4-1/2 mile down the beach… kicking the sand and the waves… find a spot to plop down… and beach sit. Read a book, listen to music, watch the people, stare off into the ocean endlessly… like it’s an addictive TV series. It was similar yesterday and will be similar tomorrow… I know what’s likely going to happen —but I’ll watch it again, and again… and again.

Anyways, time to move on. I packed up my gear and car in a storage in North Redondo. Continuoisly admired the SoCal bronze color of my skin (despite using loads of 50/70spf sunscreen daily). Bussed to LAX. And in no time, landed at Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez in México City in the early afternoon. Then chaos…

I decided to take the Metro to my place which is about an hour of train and walking. It’s cheap and relatively easy. I have a transportation card at the ready. This is one of those moments I believe that taking myself out of my comfort zone and suffering a bit is valuable to my healthy life equation.

It’s two trains and a decent walk at the transfer station. The trains were packed… so standing up with gear close was the standard. Another kilometer walk to my place in Axotla. It’s near a busy hospital and the very busy Avenida Universidad. I’m already starving. The trip took longer than expected and I arrived to my flat 2 hours later… get my keys, walk up 5 floors of stairs, throw my heavy gear down, and have a snack… and now this; there’s a leak in the kitchen sink as I washed my dishes. I climb into the loft to contact the host… lay my face down on the pillow and get a mouth full of cat fur. What and thee hell?!? My apartment was filthy and I was now covered with cat hair and there’s water all over the floor.

I was a lil’ crabby. Lil’ bit. I was hating it and mumbling, “what am I doing here?!?” I had left the warm comfortable and hygienic womb of North Redondo to be hurled into chaos and sleep in a dirty cat bed. More mumbling, “whose idea was this global citizen thing?!?”

A good nights sleep will do one wonders. The building worker showed up first thing to fix the sink drain. His name is José Luis and he wears glasses with one tinted lens. I’m sure there’s a good reason for it… but I think it’s cool and mysterious. Like he had a machete in his toolbox and fights the criminal element after dark… Also, he’s nice and fixes things. The host showed up shortly after, a French woman that speaks English. She had a brand new set of (quality) bed linens and sorted all out with kindness.

I swept a bit, washed off a few things, put out my oil difusor to clear the musty air and energy, put on the new sheets, washed the hell out of some dishes… and took a good look around. The place is spectacular. Top floor of a brick building in a charming colonial barrio. Iron gate doors to the patio(s) with amazing views. And peaceful… I mean, peaceful as big cities go.

I spent a couple of days bonding with my place, and the neighborhood. My gym is a 50 minute Metro ride (one way)… but I’m doing it… doing the healthy stuff.

There’s a whole part of this thing I do… taking myself out of my comfort zone. I know it will make me squirm… and groan… but I do it… purposefully. It does enhances the sweet moments in life when they do show up. Stirs up all kinds of inspiration. And that stoic thing about building one’s character. Yup, something like that. And when you feel the rewards of mindful good moments… and the natural chemical flow… there’s nothing like it. And life is waiting around each corner to dish it out… good stuff. Good stoic stuff.

I’m in the surreal Mexico City. I don’t have my car, or bike, and stumble much with the language… but the parts of the adventurous soul that craves inspiration from a mosh pit of life experience… those parts of the soul… are on fire.

Something cool happens ten times a day… I miss some of those moments just because I’m trying to cross the street without getting run over. Then I wonder at the end of the day; what cool things will happen tomorrow?

#coolthingseveryday

#stoicphilosophy

#moshpitlife