#14 :taking a risk
I believe in signs from the universe. I love the idea that if I pay close enough attention, that there are hints and nudges from ‘something bigger than me’ that can help me navigate my life and perhaps even shape my identity.
This is a little story of one universal nudge.
I was on my way to a yoga retreat in Massachusetts. I was looking forward to a long weekend focused on quieting some of the anxieties that had been dominating my headspace. The retreat center offered a van service to deliver retreat participants from the regional airport to the retreat property about 90-minutes away.
I was one of two people in this van. The other was an older, wiser looking woman who seemed to be content keeping her own company. She was a stereotypical-looking hippie yogi, her naturally curly hair flying crazily around in the wind as her flowing clothes made her look ethereal. After some general small talk, we rode in the van silently, everyone content with the peace.
At the end of the trip, she smiled at me and handed me a card. On the front of the card was her contact information, and on the back of the card she had scribbled the name of a retreat center in Costa Rica.
“You should look up this place. I think you need to lead a retreat here. I have been here several times, and it is a really magical and healing place. I just had a strong intuition to tell you that.”
How did she know I had been thinking this very thing for the past 2 years? Why did she choose to say this very thing at this very time to a complete stranger?
I told her I was so touched she acted on her intuition and thanked her for the recommendation.
I never saw this yogi angel again. I’m not entirely sure she was real.
Fast forward 9 months. I was on yet another van being transported from the airport to a yoga retreat center, this time in Costa Rica. Within 24 hours, 18 trusting yogis were going to be joining me for this week long yoga experience.
Booking an international retreat, site unseen, based on a recommendation from a total stranger was the biggest risk I had taken in quite some time.
The what-ifs were paralyzing.
What if the place was horrible?
What if the place was unsafe?
What if what they sold me in the brochure wasn’t at all what I found when I arrived?
Anxiety level = 100000000000000. Crimson red level anxiety.
We arrived at the gate to the property well after midnight. It opened up, and there were several people waiting to greet me with a cool drink and strong arms to carry my bags to my little cabin. They helped me get settled and showed me how to navigate to the hot tub in the dark, so I could soak off the travel stress before sleep.
The retreat property was beautiful. Tropically lush, beautifully maintained, clean and beyond beautiful. The place was silent as the current tenants were deep asleep. I crawled into the hot tub and immediately felt my neck and back uncoil. I took several deep breaths and looked into the sky. The stars were blazing and the moon was nearly full.
As I looked into the night sky, I cried.
I have never felt such relief.
This place was magical.
It was everything I could have ever dreamed.
That was 12-years ago. I have hosted 9 retreats at this same space. It has become a second home to me.
I am so excited to be sharing this retreat experience again in 2026. If you are interested, if you feel tickled by the universe to do something different in 2026, this may just be the adventure for you. You can learn more about this retreat here.
