When I’m not working, I devote as much time as I can to my personal passions: aerial arts, surfing, spending time in nature and traveling.
Costa Rica is where they all intersect.
On my first visit to Costa Rica (pre-aerial and pre-surfing), I did all the touristy things. Watched Arenal Volcano erupt in molten lava and swam under a pounding waterfall. Hiked the rainforest and soaked in natural hot springs. Zip-lined high above the dense forest canopy and didn’t die. Marveled as monkeys swung maniacally between trees and Jesus lizards skittered across the water’s surface. Saw sloths and crocs and coatimundi and cartoonish lizards and birds so brightly colored they looked fake. Rafted river rapids for the first time and didn’t die. And met some of the kindest, happiest people I’ve ever encountered.
I couldn’t wait to go back.
My second visit was to Mal Pais, then a town so remote we flew in on a six-seater plane, landed literally on a strip of concrete deep in the jungle and traversed the rocky dirt roads on ATVs. I finally learned to surf, zip-lined again, jumped from a cliff into a river and didn’t die. And, I stumbled upon an aerial silks studio tucked away in the trees behind the Funky Monkey Lodge. I was hooked after the first class and aerial became my primary passion.
I couldn’t wait to go back.
Take three: I attended a Skydancer aerial silks retreat at Airborne Arts high in the Diamante Valley mountains. I could only describe it as magical – I woke up in a cloud forest to the sounds of tropical birds and sipped Costa Rica’s renown coffee on the deck as the clouds cleared and revealed a majestic waterfall cascading over lush green hills. In the evening, dreamlike sunsets illuminated the silks studio as we created art in the air. I reveled in a week of pursuing my passion in this beautiful space with beautiful people who encouraged me to explore beyond my self-imposed boundaries. With the help of an incredible coach and now friend, I performed the scariest drop I’ve ever done and was laughing when I landed. I did a backflip from a flying trapeze and put my faith in a stranger to catch me. I didn’t die. And I felt constantly amazed and grateful for this experience, this place and these people.
I loved it and I can’t wait to go back. Maybe permanently.
What makes you feel most alive? Make it a priority. Life is shorter than you think.