31 Days of Being Present

I debated whether or not to join in on the 31 Days writing challenge from the Nester, considering last year I only managed about 15 of the 31 days. But then as I started to think of a topic to write about, one idea almost immediately came to my mind. and I felt an urge to write.

Being present.

Being an active participant in the life I am currently living. And part of this being active means being engaged, plugged in. Doing the damn thing.

So here I am, attempting 31 days of writing again for the month of October and this time the challenge to write for every day in October is about more than a blog thing, it’s about doing my part in being fully alive everyday.

This is a topic I have already struggled with and I’ve only been back in Mexico for a month and a half. You see; this is almost certainly our last year living abroad. Next year we will take the plunge and move our family and the life we have built here to the United States. I would say back to the United States, but that would be false, considering this family of ours has never attempted life together in James' and mine home country. Life has always been here, in the land of mariachis and tacos, torn up roads and bad traffic, great wealth and deep poverty; our pueblo of a home.

We always knew this day would come, that our life here wouldn’t be forever. I still remember our first few months, fresh off the plane, bags stuffed full of excitement and anxiety. Wide eyes and newly married, just kids at 22 and 23. We crossed our fingers and hoped we’d make it 6 months. 6 years later, here we are; 2 babies, a house, a car, a dog, and full.

But here’s the thing about being full; eventually you get hungry again. Your stomach begins to growl and there becomes a need to eat, to fill up.

Our bodies are feeling that need. James wants a PhD and I want experience teaching in the country I used to call home. We want Isa and Morgan to live near family and to experience the beauty that is the great landscapes of the US, the place we called home for 22 years.

So this is it, the last year we’ve been talking about since our first few months here; and we are excited and nervous and anxious.

In the midst of all of that, I want to add present to the list. I want to live in the now, engaged at work, striving to teach better everyday. I want to take part in every beauty and wonder this great country has to offer, this place we have held close to our hearts for most of our 20s.

This will probably mean a lot of pointing out the small things; the things I might take for granted day to day. I’m sure it will also mean a longer reflection from time to time on the changing moments and seasons of life this year.

Either way, I’ll be posting here, at isaandmorgan@blogspot.com if you want to follow along. You can even follow along via email if you want, but I’ll stop there so I don’t sound too much like a salesman.

Muchas Gracias, Friends. Besos.