A mental reset...

I'm currently in Costa Rica.

My time here has given me a much-needed reset. I know it's never a place that gives me peace of mind or tranquility... I can experience those feelings anywhere.

But it just so happens to be here in Costa Rica that everything has aligned for some clarity.

A mental reset of sorts.

I've been stressed the past little while, not sure what I want to get out of this trip going forward, not fully present, thinking too much instead of feeling... having a bit of an existential crisis.

This past week has consisted of hours in the ocean each day. Writing under the shade of the palm trees. Figuring out what my soul desires now... what aspirations to pursue and to into a reality next.

Lots of journaling. Oh boy - lots of journaling. This email is actually a snippet of one of my entries.

Slow mornings filled with coffee, nourishing breakfasts, and walks on the beach with Paquito. (If you're new here, he's a rescue from Mexico that my girlfriend and I adopted.)

A little bit of surfing when I can find a board to rent. Some stretching and exercise here and there. Meditation to the backdrop of waves crashing.

I feel aligned. Tomorrow, I start a course that I gifted myself as an early birthday present. Something I can't wait to do.

I'm currently in the Nicoya Peninsula, which is one of the world's Blue Zones. What are Blue Zones? Places where a statistically significant amount of the population lives to be over 100 years old.

There's a focus here on living in harmony with nature, and I can feel it.

Organic farming practices and permaculture design are the norm, not the exception. There are monkeys, sloths, colorful birds, snakes, and spiders everywhere. The wildlife is abundant.

Paquito decided to conquer his fear of water the other day by jumping into a river where crocodiles live... 😅 Luckily, a few terrified screams from me later and he quickly came back to land.

I've never seen so many lychees in my life, one of my favorite fruits. There are vendors all over selling 1 kg (2.2 lbs) for 1000 colones (just under $2 USD). I've been eating good, that's for sure.

We've been on this coastline for over a week now, thinking we would just spend a few days here. Sometimes it's nice to slow down, and this is one of those times.

While a van is meant for driving, it's nice to load up on water and groceries and park it for a bit. It's a house-on-wheels, but it's also a house. A home. Sometimes stillness is necessary. Then movement is necessary again, after some clarity.

We met another couple from Washington traveling in their Westy Van. Chris and Carter are on the same route as us, so we spent three days together at a beautiful river and some pristine beaches.​​​

Life is good. Why can that be so easy to forget?

We're currently looking for a housesitting/dogsitting opportunity in Costa Rica to slow down even more and stay here longer before going to Panama to ship the van to South America (the second leg of the trip!).

There's a connection here that I want to explore a little longer...

Have a beautiful Sunday,
Alex 🙃

[sent from my 🚐 in Costa Rica]