Altitude from the jungle

Outer highlights

Driving through the countryside in sun, rain and mud. Swimming in warm tropical waters along the Peninsula Nicoya. Seeing monkeys hoot, holler and frolic in prehistoric-sized trees and vines. Making it to Volcán Arenal after hours of translating bad news about washed out roads, storms, and sketchy accounts of alternate routes. Seeing a German bakery lakeside and remembering how small and international the whole world is becoming. Seeing everyone speaking on cell phones in rural jungle towns for that matter. Hearing the lion's roar of beautiful Arenal, and watching her spit lava and gas, creating magnificently odd weather patterns. Becoming an amateur volcanologist for 48 hours. White water rafting in clear clean waters with sunny skies and spectacular views, the workout/joyride of a lifetime. Soaking in peaceful volcanic hot springs in the off season. Meeting this little fellow on a hike. Enjoying the total Tico hospitality.

Blessings on the learning line

I am deeply fulfilled and engaged with my life here in Los Angeles. In Costa Rica I discovered how easy it is for me to let my "real world" go and be fully absorbed by the present moment, the joy of a new land. My imagination ran wild with schemes and plans to extend the trip, buy property and retire in various beach towns, and become a white water rafting instructor near the volcano. It was my first time white water rafting, and we chose a Class III / Class IV river and some excellent tour guides. I was in total joy the entire time, it reminded me of seeing my mother's face light up as she planned our daily adventures in London on a recent family visit. I came into the world with the travel bug, and I'm quite content to keep feeding my wanderlust. It brings me such opportunities to be of service. People everywhere want to be heard. How happy, how delighted people were to connect about all manner of topics with us, a pair of strangers from opposite ends of the world.



Seeing it with fresh eyes

All the perspective I had hoped for came to me in a more elegant and effortless way than I had imagined. I had thought of myself, pen in hand, brainstorming my life away under a beach umbrella. As it turns out, I danced with the ocean, laughed with the monkeys, sang with the rain. That was how I received the clarity and motivation I longed for to take my life to the next level. I am reminded that intention is powerful beyond measure.

I did use my airplane time on the way home to create one ideal scene - a mind map of my intention for a particular project, with the footnote of "this or something better for the highest good of all concerned", since who I am to say anyhow? Within 24 hours of creating it I was in a meeting hearing total support for every aspect of it. I am deepening in this lesson: co-creating with Spirit works. It works because we do have choice and responsibility and it works because ultimately what is to be will be, and we might as well surrender to the flow.

Paddling in powerful currents was a big reminder to me that I am taken care of, that it's safe to trust the river while doing my part to stay in the raft. And I aim to do more than stay in the raft. In my life I make a serious point of pulling my own weight, contributing to the direction and speed of the boat. This brings me to an awareness that keeps showing up in my coaching practice lately: on a basic level, we all want to complete and contribute in this world. It takes so many different shapes and forms for different people, but universally there is an inner six-year old in us who delights in the sight of a gold star on a spelling test. My challenge to you is to find ways of connecting to that natural sense of enthusiasm and willingness to do, so you can then train yourself to be the teacher and the student. My work is about helping people to build healthy self-coaching relationships.

Since I am my own coach, and since acknowledgment is the final and necessary step for completion, I hereby give myself three big fat gold stars for an international adventure survived and thrived. Mission accomplished.