2 years

And 3 Questions

2 years ago, last week, I left.

I left the hotel that we owned for 5 years. I left the stress. I left the wonderful people who worked for us who became family. I left friends. I left the remodeled, beautiful, award-winning hotel in the hands of the wonderful, new owners.

Mark and I expected to leave together, but I left a few days early for a family issue. Mark was to leave after the closing on the sale of our hotel was finalized, a few days later.

It wasn’t as easy as I expected. The leaving.

A fellow Substacker, Deanna Thomas, who is an ex-pat currently living in Jamaica, asked me last week why I returned to the U.S. and how my Costa Rican adventure is influencing my experience back in the States now.

Oddly, she asked me these questions on the 2 year anniversary of my departure. So, I reflected on her questions last week.

I’ve reflected a lot in the 2 years since I have returned to the U.S. and that’s why I decided to put our adventures into writing What An Adventure. As I’ve mentioned before, you don’t always appreciate things in the moment. You’re caught up in it.

But I learned so very much about myself. Things that I haven’t even begun to fully touch on yet since starting this Substack only 9 months ago. So, stay tuned, I guess!

To answer Deanna’s first question; Why did we return to the U.S.?

In one word, family. That’s what I told her and it’s true. Our daughter had gotten engaged a few months before and we found a wonderful buyer for the hotel. (More on the selling process later!)

Mark and I knew our Costa Rican adventure probably wasn’t a ‘forever’ adventure. So, when the opportunity arose to return, we knew it was time. It was time to come back to family.

But leaving wasn’t easy. Saying goodbye wasn’t easy. Closing a chapter wasn’t easy.

It probably was good that I didn’t have the chance to drag out my goodbye. I had a mere 2 days to get ready to leave. To pack up, give away some things, transition my work to the new owner. To say goodbye. There were a lot of hugs and a lot of tears.

I bawled my eyes out the whole drive down the mountain. I was leaving, but the experience made an imprint on my heart.

Don’t things that are wonderful do that sometimes? Even if you don’t always appreciate how wonderful they are at the time?

My 5 year journey evolved from a shitty beginning to a really, wonderful ending. Not because it was ending, but because it changed me.

The very last picture I took of my favorite view at the hotel as I was leaving that last morning. October 15, 2022 © Marlo Leaman

To Deanna’s 2^nd question then; How is our Costa Rican adventure influencing our experience back in the U.S. now?

For me, the answer isn’t a simple one word answer.

Now, I am calmer. I react less.

I appreciate more. I worry less.

I live more simply. I need less things. I seek experiences.

I have deep gratitude for each day. I rush less.

I am more comfortable with myself in the quiet. I now enjoy stillness.

I appreciate nature more. I am more environmentally conscious.

I care less about what others think about me. I judge less.

I say ‘no’ more. I do more of what brings me joy.

I am less concerned about the ‘next thing’, the expectation of the future.

I am more present.

Did I learn all of this from my experience in Costa Rica? Probably not. Did some of these things come more to light through my Costa Rican experience? Absolutely.

A 3rd question popped up last week also!

In an article I read recently, the author was asked, “What chapter of your life are you in at the moment?”

This question made me think about the chapters of my life.

Our Costa Rican journey was a chapter. And I know that my Costa Rican adventure will influence my experience whether I’m back in the U.S. or somewhere else, as do all our chapters.

I believe that we aren’t defined by any one chapter, but all of them combine to tell our full story in this adventure called life.

So, write your chapters. Be an explorer, life’s an adventure! Pura vida!

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Thanks

Deanna Thomas

for this week’s prompt!

What an Adventure will be on an adventure for a few weeks while we are in Canada visiting our Costa Rican friends, Karolina and Ragnar and the Pacific Northwest!