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Back in Santa
I’m back in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica – my favorite place in the world! I’ve covered my trips a few times on the blog so if you want some more reading when you’re done here, check this page out. This trip, I’m here for two weeks. I arrived on Monday (it’s Friday now) and have been working to close a real estate deal that I talked about in this article. Closing the deal will change our life dramatically, so I’ve been working as hard as I can to learn, create, accomplish, & flow. Pete and I will have a nice cushion to move here as well as manage the property that sells. Due to reasons of confidentiality, I’m unable to disclose at this moment the specifics of the deal, but rest assured that Part 2 of this article will give the full resolution of the story – no matter which outcome occurs.
The second part of my trip is a retreat with Yoga Travel Tree! I am so excited to teach a group of eager yogis and take them around my favorite parts of Costa Rica. Stay tuned for photos on Instagram and live scopes on Periscope! It’s sure to be a thrill ride, either way. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but that’s a good thing! Anytime people are putting a high amount of trust and money into you, you should always feel slightly nervous (in the beginning, anyway).
Flashback to the First Time
It’s officially the 3 year anniversary of my first trip to Costa Rica ever. That trip was 9/20 – 9/25 of 2012 and I stayed in the same hotel I’m staying in now, and my FAVORITE hotel ever: Nautilus Boutique Hotel. I refer to that time in my life as the week where everything changed. I had started manifesting my being there the year before (probably my whole life) and the way things unfolded reassured me that I was in the right place at the right time. The person I am today versus the anxious and excited girl that stepped foot in Costa Rica three years ago are two completely different people – it seems – but as I reflect from moment to moment, I realize that through the process of chasing my dreams, I learned:
- To trust myself;
- To be happy being alone;
- To simply show up and let the answers come;
- To be more calm and at ease;
- To practice yoga;
- To love and to let go;
- How to be a woman.
What have you learned while traveling solo? Comment below!
My first trip to Costa Rica was totally unplanned. I was dating someone at the time that surfed and always talked about going to Costa Rica, so the country started showing up on my radar more and more. We planned a trip to go out there together but broke up before the trip came. A colleague of mine, Heather, had booked a trip for her and the guy she was dating to go out a Yoga and Surf Retreat to Costa Rica. Unfortunately for him (but fortunately for me), he didn’t have a passport or the desire to go on a trip, and since she knew how badly I wanted to go, she offered for me to take his spot. Two weeks before take off, I trusted my gut and of course said YES! I didn’t know what to expect or what I was in for but I can truly say that those were some of the best days of my life (and things just keep getting better).
Facebook photos from the first time. Click to enlarge!
Transformation in Progress
I was on track to becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist by summer 2014, and I knew I could come back to complete my testing for licensure. Over the next year, I explored different opportunities to work in the travel industry. I helped the original company that planned my first trip there with marketing and social media, but their company never took off (I learned invaluable skill in this time, however). I dreamed of opening a treatment center abroad as they’re both beneficial for the community, for the patients they serve, and they are a great business to operate overall. The ultimate goal is to live a life in balance of helping others and providing for my family and myself.
On the New Year’s Eve of 2013, my husband Pete and I connected at a party. We knew each other before but barely. His brother was my apartment manager in Venice and threw a party. Something told me not to make any plans for that night (which was weird for me as I’m a huge planner) but I listened and simply got ready for the evening. I walked to the party to say hi to everyone and saw Pete sitting there. He had always intrigued me so I took a chance and started talking to him. We hit it off and had a lovely evening, and started dating. Things got serious fast so in February, I sat him down to tell him of my goal and dream of living in Santa Teresa. He had been there before and was all for the idea (we had slightly different timelines, though). If he actually thought I could make it happen, I’ll never know. The important thing was that he supported me and was on board.
I may not have realized at the time how much my experiences were changing me or what they were setting me up for. I was called to yoga for spiritual reasons finally in January 2013 and was led to taking a teacher training in July 2013, although I didn’t know if I would teach or not. Still – my practice was doing so much for me. Looking back, I know the seeds planted during that first trip were what helped me to take the leap and finally get into a studio.
Get To Work to Live the Life YOU Want
A few photos of Nautilus. We put our parents up here for our wedding last year (2013)!
Photos by Strike-a-Pose Photography.
I started getting involved with the yoga community on Instagram and met a lot of different influential people in the industry. I connected with Yoga Travel Tree, who was in the beginning stages of their company as I was. We’ve grown together tremendously over the last year and a half and I simply cannot wait to finally meet Brooke, their founder, personally! Read a collection of my articles on Yoga Travel Tree’s website here! When I look back at the work I did during my time living there last year, I realize each step was pivotal. I had no idea what I was doing at the time, except I just followed one stepping stone to the next. Today, I have traveled here 8 times (10 by the end of 2015) and spent over a year here. Although it’s not consistent yet, I know that each step leads to the next in achieving our overall goals. I’ve hosted one workshop here, one retreat, and I’m teaching one now, and I’ve shown over 10 clients real estate property (not a ton but it’s hard when you’re not there full time). I’m close to making my first sale if it’s in the stars – but today, I am just happy. So blessed to have cultivated each opportunity and to continue to learn massive amounts of knowledge with each one.
My Favorite Photos By Me & Pete or Of Me in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
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The hotel I could potentially help sell is the very first hotel I ever stayed at in Costa Rica, and where I first fell in love with Costa Rica. This is me at their pool when Pete and I visited in October 2013. Our family stayed there during our wedding. One of the owners made our wedding cake! Selling the hotel would be very symbolic!