The lesson for our last week in Costa Rica seems fitting. Live, with all your energy, your personal legend. If "personal legend" sounds familiar, it might be because it's from Paul Coelho's The Alchemist.
The book was kicking around at the Flutterby, a tipi, yurt, hut, dorm, and tree house sporting hotel near Ballena National Park in Uvita. One night while Rick, Ian, and Tim were surfing and Elisa and I were waiting for the wounds in our boards to dry out,
I picked it up. A few pages in, I couldn't put it down, and the lessons in the book seemed more and more applicable to the blog as I kept reading.
The purpose of the blog, aside from assuring my family that I am safe and happy, was to encourage a no resistance attitude. I never articulated to myself why "no resistance" was so important; now I know. If I am to live my personal legend (however small or large it may seem) I can't be stifled by resistance. I have to take calculated risks, try new things, do the scary things, and persist through the difficult. These are lessons I've learned while surfing, traveling, eating, jumping off and sliding down falls, and meeting new and inspiring people.
The Flutterby had only been open for three months when Rick and I got there. Pam, the friendly and knowlegable owner built the place from the ground up, and now had some help from work-stay traveler setting up more huts and helping her take care of the chickens, dogs, and hotel guests. Pam mentioned that she had been working on the Flutterby for the last year. The sturdy huts, immaculate kitchen, and overwhelmingly freindly atmosphere are just a few hints that her heart and soul is in this place. She cleared the plot of land despite encounters with fer-de-lances (she now has anti-venom in the fridge just in case), she figured out how to navigate the legal system in a foreign country and apply for the correct permits, she hammered in signs along the streets of Uvita so visitors would be drawn to her near-beach front location.
Her hard work is beginning to pay off. In the week we were there, a steady stream of visitors set up camp at the Flutterby, travelers with the surf itch hiked to her hotel to rent boards, she's developed networks with local tour guides and activity guides who provide a daily sampling of things to do for her guests.
I guess it's no surprise The Alchemist would be a book on her hotel library shelf. She is putting everything on the line to reach a personal legend.
Back in wetsuit country, I have to put energy into remembering these lessons, the journey, and the irreplaceable experiences.
Dream big, don't hold back, be ready to be a little scared, take calculated risks, make calculated sacrifices, and surf the big one (or find that sloth).
We all can.
Thanks for reading and sharing this adventure.
Pura Vida!
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