2020 has arrived. A new year. A new decade. And a hot topic here in Mexico is “propósitos” or what we call in English “resolutions.”

When I lived in Canada, popular resolutions included losing weight, exercising regularly and working harder to earn more money. But what I’m hearing here in Mexico from friends and students is very different.

The common propósitos here are more spiritual in nature. Students tell me they want to study and be more successful at school. Friends tell me they want to spend more time with family and attend church more often.

As for me, I want to preserve that inner calm that I have worked so hard to find. Inevitably it will change some of the relationships I have with others in my life; some for the better and some for the worse. But that can’t be avoided.

I’m also determined to spend less time in front of a computer screen. I have bid farewell to many of the games I used to play online. I apologize to those I no longer send lives to. But I want to commune with nature a little more this year.

On that note, I went for a long walk this afternoon around my neighborhood. One of the first things I noticed was the oranges growing on a neighbor’s tree.

Further on down the street I noticed the beautiful red blossoms on a poinsettia tree.

I then meandered through the park where I regularly color. But this time I left my gel pens and coloring book at home.

I admired the blossoms emerging on bushes and trees.

I gazed solemnly at the lovely cacti.

And I felt at peace.