My Goodbye Letter to Cancun

Dear Cancun,

After 5 years, the time has finally come for us to part ways.  What a roller coaster ride it has been.  When I found you, I was blown away by your flashing lights, party scene, interesting people, and beautiful beaches.  You were my escape.  You were the answer to all my problems, or so I thought.

I always describe us as having a love-hate relationship, although I could never hate you.  I think most people that come from other places to live here can agree with me when I say most of them move to Cancun to escape something - probably themselves, me included.

As I end this chapter of my life I have to admit I've come to terms with everything.  I finally stopped blaming my location for my own problems.  Cancun,  you are the city I escaped to, where my addiction flourished, and where I shut it down forever and learned to love life again.  Cancun you've taught me that you're not all Spring Break and parties.  You've taught me I can survive in another country, that I can adapt to changes I might not like, speak another language, get along with people I don't see eye-to-eye with, and make the best of every situation.

You helped me fall in love with Mexico - beautiful, wonderful, historic, culturally rich, corrupt, unique Mexico.  You made me grateful for where I come from, prideful to be American, and now, Mexican at heart.  I am so grateful to you Cancun for being there for me through the good and the bad.  When I was lost in your ugly party scene I saw the scary parts of myself, and when I made the decision to live a sober life on the shores of your Caribbean Sea, I realized just how beautiful I am.

Most of all I want to say thank you.  Thank you Cancun for showing me that there is still so much beauty in the world and in myself.  Thank you for opening up my tastebuds to real tacos, pastor, cochinita, MOLE!!!, enchiladas, elote with mayo & chile, and putting lime on everything.  Thanks for allowing me to find my passion for writing, blogging, and social media.  Thank you for giving me lifelong friends from other countries, who I would have never known had I not decided to move to Cancun all by myself 5 years ago.  Thank you for giving me the man of my dreams.  Thank you for letting me enjoy your amazing beaches like only a local can.

I assume that my love affair with Cancun is much like anyone who has spent time living abroad.  I went through a transformation, but for me it was a big one.  I am sad to leave you, but my time has come for the next adventure.  I will take what I have learned about Cancun, Mexico, about myself... with me forever.  It has shaped me and helped me grow.  There are so many things I will miss about you, but many things that I won't.

Goodbyes are always sad, but I take comfort in knowing that I am so lucky to have known you the way I did.  This isn't goodbye Cancun, it's see you later.

Te llevo en mi corazón México y pues en mi brazo Cancún...

Con mucho amor,

Kelly

¡VIVA MEXICO CABRONES!