Lessons From the Yucatan

When we first arrived in México, we thought we knew what it meant to slow down.
But living here, truly being here, has taught us lessons that run deeper than we expected.
Lessons that have pulled us closer together as a family, and recentred how we move through the world.

Here are a few of the most important things we've learned so far:

Slowing Down Isn't Laziness, Here It's Survival

In the Yucatán, the pace of life is slower not because people are lazy, but because the heat will humble you fast if you try to rush.
But don’t be fooled: the people here are some of the hardest workers we’ve ever seen.
From selling food on the roadside, to washing cars in underground parking lots, to offering goods and services wherever you can imagine they hustle with heart.

The difference is that work happens within life, not instead of life.
And when the sun goes down?
The streets come alive with what matters most: family, laughter, music, and community.

They aren't running from death they are chasing life.
And that energy has changed us.

Time Is the True Currency

One thing we learned quickly: time is treated differently here.
Back home, we’re taught that “time is money,” and every moment must be optimized or else we’re wasting our lives.

Here, time is still valuable but it’s used against people who haven't yet let go of their urgency.

We learned this firsthand:
One afternoon after visiting a café, we came outside to find police officers had removed our back license plate.
They said we’d have to go to the police station, somewhere, to get it back and pay a ticket.

At first, it was confusing.
Then they dropped a hint: if we paid them cash right then, they would "let us go."

We weren’t having it.
Kaitlyn immediately insisted:
“We'll go to the station right now.”
And we made it clear — we had all day to sort it out. We lived here. We weren't in a rush.

Once they realized they couldn’t waste our time or pressure us into paying they gave up.
They reattached the plate, canceled the ticket, and drove off.
(Though they did tail us for a while after, trying to catch us in a real violation! We just laughed and stayed cool 😅.)

That moment sealed the lesson:
- When you are in a rush, people can control you.
- When you move with presence and patience, you cannot be manipulated.

Presence Over Perfection

Another thing we love here:
Nobody’s constantly judging you.

There’s pride in homes, in appearance, in work but it’s not about vanity.
It’s about care.
Nothing is treated as disposable.
Possessions, relationships, traditions they are honoured and maintained, not thrown away at the first sign of wear.

It made us realize:
You don't have to be perfect to belong.
You just have to care.

Walking Forward, Together

These aren’t just “good travel lessons.”
They’re life lessons.
They’ve changed how we show up individually and as a family.

We walk slower now.
We take longer pauses to really see the world around us.
We allow conversations to unfold without rushing to solutions.
We breathe together more.

And when things get tough like unexpected problems, authority trying to intimidate us, or days when the old habits creep back in, we lean on each other and the lessons this land has taught us:

Life isn't something you win by rushing.
It's something you honour by being fully awake inside of.

Gracias, México.
You've given us more than memories;
You've given us a new way to live.

If you’re ready to slow down, reclaim your time, and start living fully in the moments you already have, I invite you to take the next step.
Book a 1:1 session with me or join our 14-day trial, where we dive deep into mastering awareness, presence, and intentional living.
Spots are filling up fast — let’s walk this path of conscious living together and create a life you don’t need to escape from.

Check out our YouTube channel @ https://www.youtube.com/@JoshWalshfit. You can also find me on 𝕏 @walsh_fit.