Atención Vibrant Living: Designing A Vibrant Year - Movement, Meaning And Mini-Getaways

By Carla Maria Pérez

A new year always carries a certain energy. It feels like a fresh stretch of road, open and inviting, encouraging us to imagine what’s possible. But instead of making resolutions we abandon by February, what if we approached the year differently? What if we designed a year that actually feels good to live—one built on consistent movement, nourishing food, meaningful connection, and simple, intentional escapes from routine?

These pillars work together. They create momentum without overwhelm and invite joy rather than pressure. And they’re accessible whether you live here in San Miguel or you’re reading from somewhere else in the world.

Movement: The Foundationof a Vibrant Body and Mind

The most beneficial kind of movement isn’t about chasing numbers or shrinking your body. It’s about preparing your future self to live fully and independently for as long as possible. Longevity research, including the work of Peter Attia, consistently points to two of the strongest predictors of a longer life: good cardiorespiratory fitness and maintaining muscle mass.

These same qualities are also central to healthspan—the years we spend living with strength, mobility, clarity, and independence. It’s not just about how long we live, but how well we live.

A helpful way to think about this is to ask yourself: What do I want to be able to do later in life? Travel comfortably? Walk through a new city without pain? Lift a suitcase into an overhead bin? Carry groceries, get up from the floor, pick up a grandchild, or move through daily life with confidence? In my work with adults 55 and over, I see that people aren’t pursuing fitness for its own sake—they want to stay capable. Those everyday abilities are what give movement meaning.

Strength or resistance training helps preserve muscle and bone, supports joints, and protects mobility. Aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, HIIT, swimming, or dancing, supports heart and lung health and is strongly associated with longer life. Balance and flexibility work help keep us steady, agile, and confident as we age.

Equally important, exercise is a powerful protector of brain health. Regular movement is strongly associated with better cognitive health and a lower risk of neurodegenerative disease. Simply put: being fit and strong supports both the body and the mind.

Nutrition amplifies all of this. Adequate protein supports muscle repair, colorful foods nourish the brain and heart, and steady nourishment stabilizes energy. Movement and nutrition work best as partners, reinforcing each other day after day.

If you live in San Miguel, movement might look like a morning walk up to El Mirador, a strength session at your favorite exercise studio or on your terrace, or gentle stretching as the sun sets. Wherever you live, your surroundings can support your health—if you let them.

Meaning: The Power of Connection

A vibrant year isn’t built on tasks or achievements; it’s built on connection. That connection might come from deepening friendships, making new ones, or simply being more present with the people already in your life.

Travel often reminds us how naturally connection happens when we’re open—a conversation with a stranger, a shared meal, a moment of laughter. But you don’t need to go far to feel connected. Presence is what makes connection possible.

Mini-Getaways: Joy in Small Escapes

One of the simplest ways to keep life feeling fresh is to step out of routine regularly. You don’t have to go far. A mini-getaway can be a single afternoon or a short overnight—anything that allows you to experience your surroundings differently.

For those of us in San Miguel, that might mean a quiet morning in Atotonilco, a pottery class in Dolores Hidalgo, exploring the art scene in Pozos, or breakfast somewhere new after a sunrise walk. Wherever you live, there are nearby corners waiting to be rediscovered. These small escapes interrupt stress, spark curiosity, and remind us that novelty and joy are always within reach.

Designing Your Vibrant Year

The beauty of this approach is its simplicity. You don’t need drastic resolutions or rigid rules—just small, steady practices that support your body, mind, and spirit.

Move your body in ways that strengthen and support you. Nourish it well. Stay connected to people who matter. And give yourself moments of discovery throughout the year.

Do these things consistently, and by December, you won’t look back on a year you tried to control—you’ll look back on a year you truly lived.

Carla Maria Perez curates extraordinary travel experiences and promotes lasting wellness for adults 55+. She designs bespoke journeys worldwide and provides tailored fitness and nutrition guidance. foratravel.com/advisor/carla-perezcarlaperez.issacertifiedtrainer.com415 566 0004