adiós costa rica

San José, CR

Terence and I are at the airport about to fly out of Costa Rica!

We are on our way back to Cali today after over 4 weeks through Uvita, San José, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, La Fortuna, Montezuma and Santa Teresa. As we were reflecting last night on our experiences over the last month, there were a few potent lessons that came to the forefront for me:

1. I need to be creative/be around creativity...
When I spent a week in Montezuma, I was overwhelmed by the amount of musicians, dancers, jewelry makers, visual artists, and playful spirits I found there. I noticed myself come alive and engage with life in ways I hadn’t been throughout other moments of the trip. I discovered this aggravation that builds in my body after not being actively creative for a while, and how when I am a little creative every day, I am a happier, more balanced and more blissful Teagan. And whether that creativity is singing, writing, dancing, or simply witnessing the art making and celebration of others, it is just as necessary as food to me.

2. Taking time to connect with myself, whether it’s a week or a few minutes, greatly supports my connection with Terence...
My last writing was about solo time in partnership, and how important it is. As Terence and I head into the next part of our journey in our van (which I am so damn excited about and will write more about soon!!!) this will be especially important to remember. I’m lucky to have a partner who I’m on the same page with.

3. When I listen to my body, I feel like a hottie...
This has nothing to do with how my body actually looks. I’m not really sure how much my body has changed while I have been traveling—if I have gained or lost weight or tone or any of those things I am continuing to realize don’t matter as much as I once thought they did. But I noticed that when I would give my body love, attention and affection, I felt radiant, sparkly, and beautiful. This body-love was in the form of stretching and exercise and yoga, sometimes it was in the form of a walk on the beach and resting, and sometimes it was in the form of laying with myself and crying. The importance of my daily-self-connection-practice is being reinforced in ways I hadn’t imagined. Because whatever the form, celebrating myself as I am is the best dose of “I’m a hottie” I’ve discovered yet.

4. It’s the people, not the places, that make traveling great...
When Terence and I look back on the most remarkable moments of this last month, each moment had a very special person or group of people associated with it. The waterfalls and rainforests and towns and little shops and beaches were all beautiful, but what made them memorable was the Surprise Music Making, the Laughter About Her Marriage, the Passionate Talk About Education, the Learning Spanish Over Breakfast, the Bumping Into You Three Times In Three Places, the Contact Improv In The Grass, the Jump Into The Rock Pool With A Stranger, and of course, the Terence y Teagan Time. The people give the places Life and History and Silliness and Craziness. And while I’m sure this is known and understood by most, I think it bears repeating and remembering, for the rest of my travels and my life.

I’m sure there are more lessons from this short yet long experience, but these are the ones resting at the forefront of my heart. I’m returning home more inspired, wise, and tan than I ever imagined possible.

​Gracias, Costa Rica, till next time...