Life has a way of steering us toward places we never imagined. For me, moving to Costa Rica for a fresh start wasn’t simply about changing my address, it was about transforming my entire existence. What began as a journey through grief and self-discovery became the doorway to peace, purpose, and, unexpectedly, love.
A Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
In February 2023, just two days after my birthday, I was on my first solo cruise when I received news that shattered my world. My 34-year-old son, Ramone, had passed away in his sleep. That moment brought me to my knees.
Grief has a way of stripping life down to its rawest truth. As I laid my son to rest, I looked hard at my own life. My 16-year marriage was struggling, and no longer felt genuine. I realized I had spent decades prioritizing everyone else without ever truly discovering who I was. At a friend’s gathering, the idea of Costa Rica came up and it stirred something in me.
Choosing Courage Over Comfort
After months of reflection, I knew I couldn’t keep living in survival mode. With respect and compassion, I asked for a divorce. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but also the most necessary. Within a week, it was finalized, and a few months later on October 31, 2023, I boarded a one-way flight to Costa Rica.
At first, I thought it would be a temporary stop on a larger journey. But Costa Rica had other plans for me. The mountains, the fresh food, the lush jungles, and the slower rhythm of life, all of it spoke to a part of me I didn’t even know existed.
Learning the Beauty of Silence in a Fresh Start
I settled in Atenas, a quiet town surrounded by rolling hills. For years, my life had been filled with constant noise… traffic, city lights, and the hum of busyness. Suddenly, I was surrounded by silence: the rustling of leaves, rain tapping against the tin roof, the occasional call of toucans.
At first, I was uncomfortable. I didn’t realize until then that I was afraid of peace. But slowly, Costa Rica’s Pura Vida lifestyle, its philosophy of pure, simple living, taught me to embrace stillness. Instead of running from silence, I learned to rest in it. And in that stillness, I began to heal.
Love in the Most Unexpected Place
I came here planning to travel the world solo, convinced that my story moving forward was about me alone. But life, in its mysterious way, had another chapter waiting.
Meeting Nina wasn’t part of the plan. Yet she came into my life with warmth, laughter, and a love that felt like home. Instead of resisting, I leaned in and discovered that true partnership doesn’t take away from self-discovery, it expands it. Together, we’ve found that Costa Rica isn’t just a destination, it’s the foundation for a shared life filled with adventure, healing, and purpose.
A Fresh Start in the Heart of Costa Rica
Moving to Costa Rica for a fresh start wasn’t just about leaving behind what no longer served me. It was about opening the door to something better:
- From grief, I found healing.
- From noise, I found peace.
- From solitude, I found love.
If you’re standing at a crossroads, whether in your career, your relationship, or your personal journey, I want you to know this: it’s never too late to choose differently. Sometimes the greatest chapters of your life are waiting in places you haven’t yet considered. For me, that place was Costa Rica.
Costa Rica gave me a rebirth. And with Nina by my side, it’s become more than just my new home, it’s the canvas where we’re writing our love story, one Pura Vida moment at a time..