Campeche

I’m now in Brazil, settling into a new rhythm with my partner and her son. Since his school started, we have been establishing a nice morning routine: waking up, making breakfast, and meditating together three times a week, an agreement we reached with him, then walking to school. Afterward, while he is in class, she and I exercise and work on projects around our home. This includes installing things like a new kitchen sink grate, a design I learned about and liked very much while in Vietnam; it has a bigger metal basket to catch all the bits. Equally essential has been to enjoy our free time. We’re trying to spend more time outdoors and play games like cards and possibly some D&D while trying to watch less screens; we’ve even canceled all our content subscriptions to help with that. This doesn’t mean we’re without things to watch, as we buy or rent once in a while. We are currently watching the 90s X-Men series, and seeing them both enjoy it as much as I do has been a highlight. This rhythm extends to my larger family as well, as I was able to be here for an important milestone for my mother. Last week, she handed over the keys to her farm, which was purchased by a friend and then donated to an entity my mother greatly respects. She had long been working on a way to transfer her farm to them, and seeing that effort succeed was wonderful. We’ve also enjoyed days at the beach with my sister and niece, and a few days ago my younger sister and her family arrived for their month-long visit.

Looking back at the nearly two years since I first posted my Initial Plan, I feel that I’ve done even more than I hoped: to connect and continue to foster those bonds across borders and cultures. I found what I already thought to be the inescapable truth, which is that our differences are simply our unique way of reaching the core needs we all have in common. I found much kindness in this world, and as we move into an uncertain future, I believe we must nourish and practice it. I am grateful to all those who helped and supported me along the way. Not just during my travels, but every connection over my life, as well as those before me for millennia, without whom I would not be. These actions range from small to large, from those close to me to some I hardly knew. But all have shaped who I am today.

Going forward, I will continue to care for my loved ones, which today more than ever I understand must also include myself. To me, that means meeting needs I better understand. This includes using my time to volunteer and helping organizations that share similar values of solidarity and peace and continuing with my reading, which I now enjoy and teaches me well. This practice of listening to oneself is something I am still learning, but I believe it is worth undertaking. If possible, try to understand your needs and how to honor them, especially if you are the type of person who normally doesn't.