A lot has changed since my last update in 2020 (you can checkout the last update here)

If this is your first time here, I do these every year except for 2021; so this is kind of a hybrid 2021/2022 update.

It’s my personal reflection of the year and a great way to keep my friends and family updated.

p.s. Hello from Berlin, where I’m typing this.

In November 2020, I moved out of New York and was living in LA. Work wise, the PPP loan gave my company a life line and we managed to recover our revenues back to pre-covid levels. By all accounts, things were going well but I wasn’t happy. The unhappiness was fueled by a breakup I didn’t see coming - and this may be surprising to some of you because I rarely talk about my love life.

I wasn’t suicidal but I was indifferent about living. I felt like I had given more than I had taken in the world. In search for inspiration and escape, I packed a carry-on suitcase and booked a one way flight to the only country that was open & convenient to both LA and New York: Mexico.

I arrived in Playa del Carmen with no friends and I didn’t speak any Spanish.

Claudia was my first friend in Mexico.
We became very close friends very quickly. I love how hard she works. She usually has 2-3 projects at the same time. I think in the time that i’ve known her, she tried and ran half a dozen businesses..many of them net positive.
As a bonus, I’ve always wanted a lesbian best friend! :)

Joaquin and his gf Monse.
I’ve saw Joaquin more than most. He was the first at my favorite coffee shop that asked me about my work. He reminded me of a younger me, fascinated by many things, eager for a chance to do something big, but patiently doing what is necessary in the moment.
I remember one day walking into the shop and he was reading Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, in Spanish. Lesson from that story? Persistence is a virtue - a fitting impression & memory I have of Joaquin.

This is Minerva, my Spanish teacher. She’s a local Rotaractor and the one who chose my Spanish name, Ramón - the wise protector.
In this picture, we were at Walmart and bought for toys and supplies for 20+ kids of single moms (w/ domestic violence challenges)
I love that her dream is to build a wholistic school to teach kids life skills. She’s definitely overqualified to be my teacher.. Minerva has a masters in education, a big heart, and lots of patience.

In my first week, I also met Samy, who became one of my closest friends and business partner (check IG @mypawsplanet)
When we met, I really didn’t know how to be a good friend. I put up walls between me and everybody, and refused to let new people get close to me. But Samy is one of the best friends anyone can ask for - he knows how to hype me up when i’m feeling down.
If I only met Samy in Mexico, the entire experience would’ve been worth it.

Cydney and I at Monte Alban, Oaxaca
My sister came down to Mexico for an extended stay. We left the beach and went in-land and signed a lease in Mexico City.

Isla Mujeres
In this moment, I captured this picture to remind myself that growing up means learning how to be completely happy and stressed at the same time. My sister and I were cruising down the coast of Isla Mujeres on the way to dinner.

In Spanish, the word “HAPPY” is “FELIZ” and more importantly, it is also “CONTENTO”

I owe it to Mexico that I found my love for life again. I learned to be content.

I don’t think I can fully capture the experience I had in Mexico. I’ve always been very self-aware but in Mexico, I befriended people who challenged my world-view and pushed me to appreciate drastically different perspectives. In my free time, I sought out places that needed help and gave as much as I could. While the stories are heartwarming, I don’t really want to share it here.. I know you’d be proud of the work I’ve done.

Some highlights

In no particular order

I bought my first NFT at this Starbucks in Mexico City :)

Got really close to a group of strangers I met because of web3 (LA, CA)

Mari, her mom, Jorge and I (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)

Jerrick’s college graduation (San Diego, CA)

Jerome’s college graduation (Long Beach, CA)

Officiated Herb & Samantha’s wedding (California Club, LA)

Spoke on a panel about helping Ukraine (Riga, Latvia)

Somewhat of an annual family trip (Rosewood Miramar, Santa Barbara, CA)

When I was in Mexico, I met a guy who 20 years ago left everything he had in the US and moved to a tiny island for a girl he met just a few months before.

We got to know each other over a few weeks I spent on the island.

He asked me, “are you open to the idea that something could happen today that changes your entire life, your goals, your direction?”

At the time, I said “no”. I planned on going back to New York after covid.

Today, I believe it.

I used to live as if I had multiple lives.. like maybe if I didn’t live enough, I can come back and try again. That was so foolish. As far as I know, I am not coming back.

We have one chance to go after what we want, what makes us happy, and what fulfills us.

I believe it now more than ever.

No more waiting..

I’m living for now; and I hope you will too.

Thank you for your friendship and love.

“It’s neither about the journey or the destination; it’s about the company”

If you made it all the way here, text me: “TACO!”

Onward,