By Carmen Rioja
For a while Mexico has become known for its open frontiers. Without doubt, it is The place where diversity encounters. This reality has transformed El Bajío into one of the richest cultural areas of the Continent, and specifically to San Miguel de Allende in one of the most influential entities for the rest of the world, a city that has been elected #1 among the best cities in the world, more than three times by Conde Nast Traveler International subscriber’s contest.
The eyes of the world are attentive to a region that is rich in cultural heritage, artistic creativity, gas, automobile, livestock and dairy industries, high profile tourism, luxury retirement and special health services, among a very rich intellectual life. Is part of the history of the region, hosting the head of the quarters for a long time ago. Independence ideology came from Guanajuato and Querétaro. And it was in San Miguel Allende where the first Council of a Municipality was formed as opposed to the Viceroy rules and royal taxes.
Like in most regions of the world, for 2022 trends will continue being dictated from the interior and not precisely by the centralized instances. Sophisticated communities that are inclusive to all diversity offer a curated ideology and consensus solutions that enriches knowledge. As examples of influential entities, we can mention Venecia, San Petersburgo, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Cannes, Cali and San Miguel de Allende itself.
We are the witnesses of the seed of change. This are our Twelve Trends to Be Aware for 2022:
- Young Movement: The fresh energy of the youngest completely saved the editorial industry through the pandemics. A new army of voracious readers is claiming material that is not only literary but that enhances digital or virtual worlds and inter connections among participants. Thousands of books for children, illustrated graphic novels and juvenile short stories were sold during this event more than any other kind of book.
- Global Communications: Zoom, WhatsApp, and other communication apps, with video conference rooms will be in vogue. The fight will be over offering the most flexibility for multi-participant rooms and blackboard tools. Mobile devices and long-distance interactions will grow.
- Virtual Life: The new virtual world leaded by economic monsters like Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are fighting over for the virtual space in imaginary worlds, be careful not to lose yourself into the ambitious yet imaginary wealthiness they promise
- Reading Books That Matter: Book Fair of Guadalajara presented 2 surprises, Alberto Chimal author of the traveler Saga, stories for young and old, published by University Nacional Autónoma de Mexico; Ann Boyer, with Undie, an essay about the actual health system and insurance policies.
- Wise health: We are rethinking the meaning of health, more than ever people are learning yoga with long trained expert yoga teachers.
- Degrowing: scientists and global justice are researching and proposing new economic models and development models to strengthen the force of degrowing, specially in big cities where construction of new and abandonment of old is destroying landscapes.
- Preserving: A daily art we all can practice, trying to fix instead of throwing, avoiding disposable items and instead trying to prevent or retard decomposition, will be the best. Not only for historical and artistic treasures, but preservation as a way of life.
- Regional Trading: Buying local will be more than a trade a need, we will give more value to the crafted hand made products.
- Learning: Seminars, lectures, readings, coaching, languages, science, history, art. Studying from home and enjoying all of the great collections recently opened digital sites for the people from all over the world.
- Meditating: Not only yoga has proven to be a super tool for your life, but meditation has become one of the most powerful movements. Just as writer and priest Pablo de Ors’ said, “We will be saved by the present time”.
- Making Friends: A worldwide community is growing more and more, recently communicated by forums, chats, connected by common interest. People have learned that we do not want to be alone. Teaching or finding a class, belonging in a reading club to enjoy mutual learning, will be one of the strongest trends.
- New Traveling: Human migrations have been illustrated in caves since prehistoric times. We will learn again, how to keep on travelling, using masks, for the present pandemic and future ones. Migrations also contribute to enrich diversity. In the long term this diversity gathering will strengthen not only our culture and knowledge but also our autoimmune system.
Carmen Rioja is a Mexican artist and restorer who specialized in antiques, mural paintings and writing workshops well known for her works at Cañada de la Virgen Pyramids a Sanctuary of Atotonilco. She is the author of the emblematic books La Muerte Niña and Rojo 43.
