Discovering my Fearlessness in Costa Rica

I began to look for writing retreats the summer of 2016, as I just knew my soul needed to find a deeper sense of purpose through prose. Tremendous loss factored into my decision to look for personal inspiration. My mother passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on February 2, 2016. I am a huge proponent of experiencing life to the fullest, but her sudden death sent a jolt of sadness and reality to my system. In fact, I was reminded once again of the value and fragility of life. I needed to awaken my inner fears.

I love to express myself through words, but I had never attended a retreat, never taken a writing class, and never traveled with women I did not know. Yet, the sense of community reflected through stories from previous Pink Pangea participants aligned with what I was intuitively searching for. I made the commitment to attend the Costa Rica retreat six months before the trip, which was also something out of character for me. It’s out of character because I am a big last-minute adventure traveler.

I was ready to find greater meaning in my life, to invest in myself on this Costa Rica retreat, to breathe for serenity, to take my writing to the next level.

On a cold Saturday morning in Washington DC, I woke up at 3:50 to go to the airport. My carry-on was full of yoga pants, swimsuits, and journals, and I had my passport in hand. Excitement ran through my veins in anticipation for this new experience. I had a quick layover in Miami, and could not stop smiling a big cheesy smile as I walked past the LOVE & PEACE sign at the airport. I was almost in Costa Rica! As the plane landed in San Jose, I was overwhelmed with nervous emotion.

How was the week going to unfold? Would our expectations be met? Would we all get along? Why did we decide to make this commitment to come to this retreat?

The retreat experience exceeded my expectations in every way. Each morning I woke up to a vibrant sunrise, ready to start my day with a yoga class overlooking glorious mountains. Every night I soaked in a hot tub, watching the sunset in a tropical oasis. Each day was filled with fresh food, herbal teas, luscious fruit, and thoughtful conversation.

Discovering my Fearlessness at Pink Pangea’s Costa Rica Retreat.

On Friday, the last day of this magical retreat, I sat in a hammock to absorb all the experiences I had embraced. I felt like I had become a better version of myself. I came to Costa Rica with an open heart and an open mind. And, I was ready to find greater meaning in my life, to invest in myself, to breathe for serenity, to take my writing to the next level. I flipped through my journal to see how the week had transformed my inner and outer being.

At our first orientation session we were asked to complete this prompt: “When I see myself writing I see…” I wrote: “I see potential to impact others but there’s a barrier of fear in my mind.” After less than a week, some of those barriers had dissipated into the clear blue Costa Rica sky. I asked myself why?

Towards the end of sharing my story about my mother, I burst out in tears of joy and sadness. I could not believe that I had written words that possessed such raw emotion.

I had the opportunity to write about thought-provoking topics personal to my heart in a paradise that embraced self-reflection and encouraged vulnerability. Additionally, I read my writing in a space where critique was constructive and where I trusted peers for whom I had the utmost respect. In fact, I distinctly remember the day we wrote about “A Woman’s Worth.” I described my mother’s journey from Bangladesh to the United States in the 1970s.

Towards the end of sharing my story about her, I burst out in tears of joy and sadness. I could not believe that I had written words that possessed such raw emotion. It was incredible.

When I was not writing, the warmth of the air along with the sound of palm trees swaying in the wind guided my intention to stay in the present moment. I was free from daily responsibility, free from external noise, free from fear.

Above all else, what made this experience in Costa Rica memorable were the people.

Above all else, what made this experience in Costa Rica memorable were the people. When I booked this trip, I did not realize that I would be at this retreat on February 2^nd, the one year anniversary of my Mom’s passing. Yet, the ability to be my true self and to be comforted by new friends gave me the courage I needed to move forward in my life and my writing.

I have transferred so much of what I learned in Costa Rica into my daily life, enough to conquer the world with all I can offer. I just needed the right opportunity to discover my fearlessness.

  

Discovering my Fearlessness at Pink Pangea’s Costa Rica Retreat Related Reading

• 12 Surprising Things About Costa Rica
• On Travel and Gratitude
• 6 Life-Changing Lessons I Learned on Pink Pangea’s Costa Rica Retreat

Discovering my Fearlessness at Pink Pangea’s Costa Rica Retreat top image of participants of Pink Pangea’s 2017 Costa Rica retreat.