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Looking Back, Looking Forward
Reflecting on the end of my creative sabbatical in Mexico City.
As I write this newsletter and reflect on my creative sabbatical in Mexico City – the word that remains constant is gratitude. From the signs that sparked my intuition, the conversations that expanded my POV, and the affirmations from people, old and new, who I felt understood me, every moment here offered a new lesson, a fresh perspective, not just about Mexico City, but about myself. To have this idea for years and realize you not only made it happen but also turned out to be something more than I could ever imagine – is a feeling I will cherish forever.
For me, it was more than just a trip or a set of adventures, etc., it was a group of experiences and moments that changed my perspective on how I view and navigate life. When I realized that my time was slowly coming to an end, I would say “Once this is over or when I’m back in the real world” Yet, I stopped doing that. Instead of looking at this season as a reset to get me back to where I used to be, I’m prioritizing these feelings and embracing this new version of myself. With the goals and dreams I have, I don’t expect life to always look like this. However, I can make sure it feels like this.
Throughout my time here, it was important to document the journey but also leave room for the experience. While doing so, I received a lot of questions and kind words about the sabbatical, Mexico City, etc. I appreciated them all, thank you. Let’s dive into the questions to go more in-depth on how I got to this point.
What was your process of picking a spot and planning your days?
Choosing Mexico City as the place for my sabbatical happened for a few reasons. In A Break from the Norm, I talked about my first visit a few years ago. After being there for a month, I loved it and had a strong desire to return. So for about two years, I started thinking about what that would look like. It would also be comforting to know my first extended solo trip out of the country would be somewhere familiar. This is the year where everything aligned, and I was able to make it happen.
Another helpful thing was the time zone. Mexico City is in the CST time zone, which made connecting with friends and family back in the States a lot easier. It gave me a sense of normalcy that was important during those days when I needed to call or see a familiar face.
When planning my days, I broke it up into themes — Work, Learn, and Play. Structure was important to be intentional but the priority was to leave a lot of room for spontaneity. For example, after my weekly painting class, returning home I would always walk in a different direction to check out new places or stop by new restaurants for lunch that caught my eye after Spanish lessons. (Read Flowing Freely for a full breakdown of my themes.)
Was being in a new location part of the process or in addition to?
To get what I needed, a new location was part of the process. I’ve learned over time that when I’m in a different environment from my norm, I’m able to view and reflect with a different lens. Taking it to the next level with navigating a different culture had more impact and allowed me to stretch my creative flow in various ways which is what I wanted for this experience. At this stage of my life, being in a new location allowed me to focus on my personal growth with no distractions, and expand my creative flow in new ways, along with improvements to my holistic health (mentally, physically, and spiritually).
In the future, I plan to incorporate short creative breaks in other ways. I won’t always be able to take a 3-month break in a different country, but that shouldn’t stop me from finding that spark regardless of location.
How long was the sabbatical and what about cost?
I was in Mexico City for 3 months! I did go to the US for 10 days in between that time, but I treated that separately when planning. From a cost perspective, at the beginning of this year, I researched how to budget for a sabbatical plus the average cost of items in Mexico City. A great resource I discovered is this amazing article and budget template from Albert Wavering. Using it was a lifesaver because after deciding on the location, my second question was of course how I would pay for this. When I found out my job was coming to an end in a few months, I realized the time was now and was able to put a plan into action following these docs:
Experience any aha moments or creative unlocks?
So many! But I will share the first 2 that come to mind:
Art in All Things
I’ve always enjoyed art, but during my time in Mexico City, I saw art in such a different light. It was everywhere - in the food, music, the streets. Sometimes I searched for it, other times it found me. Either way, I left inspired. As I navigate life, I now think about how I can incorporate art into all aspects, from my career path to the little things in my day-to-day life. How can I tell stories and create things that make an impact? I’m excited to answer these questions and see how my time here influences what I work on in the future.
Grow With Grace
For the longest time, I thought overcoming challenges and going through hard things was the only way to grow. Yes, that’s one way and life be lifin so it’s guaranteed. However, what would growth look like while existing? These past few months, I realized what that could feel like – from the life lessons I learned during my painting class to the wise words I would hear from people I met on my daily walks. Those reminders showed that growth doesn’t always have to come from adversity, but you can grow with grace too.
Favorite daytime activities, spots, and restaurants?
Yes! I was there for 3 months and still didn’t get a chance to do it all.
Here’s a link to my ongoing Google list of recommendations plus a few of my favorite spots and activities below.
As this chapter comes to a close, I reflect on the memories, the lessons, and the moments big and small. All have reshaped my perspective in ways I am still discovering. The joy I felt getting ice cream at the local shop around the corner, the ideas forming while listening to audiobooks and podcasts while walking with no destination, the peace I felt when painting – those are the moments that run deep with feelings I am taking into 2024 and beyond. Whether it's through my adventures in Mexico City or the quiet days at home filled with creative brainstorming, the journey continues. It’s hard to stand on business without strong roots, so I’m grateful for the time I had to nourish them. Knowing that the sabbatical was the detour, not the destination, I’m very excited to see where this re-route takes me.
Talk soon.
Beautiful and serene take on taking a sabbatical, including the useful resources and budgeting tools. I'll have to check out some of these recommendations!