Mexico Day 121: Stepping back from social media and into the here & now

Agua Verde, Baja California Sur  //

At the top of the morning, two of the four other campers parked on the beach here at Agua Verde depart. This “hidden gem,” that has since been discovered and seen in various YouTube videos and Instagram feeds, actually feels like a hidden gem today. Our neighbors share in our observations that the camping season is winding down and everyone is making their way back north. It was a last-minute decision to come here and I’m so glad we did.

It’s a quintessential Baja kind of day with our activities and the neighbors’ activities consisting of fishing, hiking, bike riding, kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling. The temp continues to rise steadily throughout the day and eventually surpasses ninety. But ninety here is an entirely different thing than ninety on mainland Mexico’s Pacific coast from where we’ve just come. Calm, cool water is just steps from our door and the humidity here is nil. Though, what I would gladly take from the Pacific coast right about now are some of its magnificent coconut palms. Shade is hard to come by here in Baja and it takes constant diligence to keep ourselves from withering into raisins.

Last week, I decided to take a much-needed break from social media and YouTube and instead turn my attention to long-form content such as books and movies. I’m captivated by a book today and enjoy several hours oscillating between reading and staring out at the water while contemplating what I’ve just read. Over the course of the day, I notice a level of clarity and contentedness that I haven’t felt in months. From experience, I know this has everything to do with not letting my attention be hijacked by my phone, held by infinite scroll, and made anxious by the compulsive urge to compare myself to others. While these platforms have many benefits, I’m completely freaked out by the ways in which I notice them alter my psyche. By the end of the day, I’m convinced that this digital detox is exactly what I needed, and I intend to keep it going.

At sundown, our neighbors gather their chairs around Morgan & Mark’s truck camper, a short walk down the beach from us. Instead of sitting and scrolling on my phone, like I very well might have done a week ago, I take my chair and join the group. Part of my desire to use Instagram is to connect with others. However, nothing can compete with real-life, in person conversation. Instagram allows for a shallow sense of connection while remaining a hermit. Facing my social awkwardness head-on is uncomfortable at first, but spending the evening getting to know our incredibly kind and interesting neighbors is far more rewarding.

We arrived here with zero plan and after 24 hours are struggling to find any reason to leave anytime soon. This place is paradise. In both my inner and outer world, life is good. I’d like to stick around and enjoy it.

…