Magic Meets Magic
- Feb 7, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 7, 2022
I should say that I took a leap of faith and a big chance on myself and booked a 1 way ticket to Costa Rica, I moved! (well, for a maximum of 60 days and with intermittent returns because I have business in Austin, haha) DAMN, I've been dreaming of this day for almost a year now and I had gotten to the point that I thought it was only a dream. But, I did it and I can't imagine it being better than it is.
The moment I clicked "purchase" felt like it was two weeks ago (spoiler alert - it was just two weeks ago). I'm craving adventure, I'm craving travel, I'm craving to be so far outside of my comfort zone that I have no choice but to lean in and trust myself... and so I intentionally booked this trip with little to no plans. I wanted to challenge myself to figure it out, meet people and learn new things through hard situations.
I write from my hostel bed in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, so backed up with stories to share and gratitude to express that it's just flat out time to write this post. I've kept my moves pretty hidden because, honestly, I wasn't 100% convinced I would actually do it (basically just fear needing a way out). Plus, I had a lot of hard things I needed to wrap up before February 3rd, the day I planned to leave Austin and they all needed to be taken care of before I could go. I packed a 70L backpack with only the essentials and that's what I'll use for the foreseeable future. 70L seemed small until I got out here and real backpackers are like... that's a big bag man (hahaha) but, like, also I'm a girl and I do want to have some of life's little luxuries like occasionally curling my hair and cute clothes, also I do what I want. I digress.
The loose ends I had to tie up before this trip were NOT fun, they were heartbreaking, and incredibly difficult. But, I did them! Surprisingly, with courage, grace, and love. I am very proud of myself and I know that this is all going to contribute to the new Mandee emerging from the ashes. When I booked this trip I did so from a place of making decisions that future Mandee would make because the current state Mandee just wanted to cry in bed and also from under a rock, so we had to rally while she did her thing... we're moving towards the next season. ITS TIME. I made the choices I knew I wanted to make even though I didn't feel ready to make them, a blind leap, skip, and a hop into my destiny. I will never stop thanking myself for that decision.
Let's talk about the day of my flight.
I didn't sleep the night before... like at all 🤡 For a very beautiful reason; A reason that has filled me up in more ways than I can count in the past few weeks, one that is breathing life to my dreams and showing me what IS possible. This all came about because I clicked confirm purchase on a one way ticket with American Airlines... DAMN I scream, damn. More on the reason later but for now just know that I didn't sleep, not even 10 minutes.
My friend was supposed to take me to the airport around 5:30am for my 8:30am flight but he never came to get me. I will admit in that moment I thought it a sign from the universe to stay put (not me looking for a reason to back out of something scary as hell, 🤡). I decided to call an Uber and just eat the $40 fare. Also, I should mention there was a winter storm blowing through Austin, TX bringing snow and ice that started at 3am the morning of my flight. I absolutely thought my flight was going to be canceled but I went to the airport anyways. When I checked in for my flight they warned me that the temp was dropping quickly and there was a high probability of cancelations and delays... that was encouraging along with the rest of my morning (I kid). It felt like a lot of resistance but I pressed on through bag check, TSA, then got breakfast to eat at the gate (a chocolate croissant, thanks Anna for my new croissant addiction). I'm sitting there for over an hour watching the outbound flight board cancel flight after flight and I won't lie, a piece of me was like "ok, fewh, good" thinking mine would be next and I'd go home, go to bed and forget this ever happened. Guys, when I say that every single mother fucking outbound flight got canceled that morning I'm not lying... there was only one exception, MINE! So I guess we're doing this, I told myself as I walked onto my flight.
Also, I don't have this huge friend group that texts and talks all the time but that morning.... 9 text messages. 9! Just checking in to see if I was going to make it out of the city and to wish me love and light on this new journey, just to hype me. FUCK ME UP, I AM SO LOVED. And if it was these individuals choice, or the universe putting me on their minds to reach out, it doesn't really matter... the fact that they did is what I cannot get over. Here are just a few of the sweet exchanges from that morning:
Nothing screams alignment like being the only flight getting out of the airport in a winter storm. Especially, when I was banking on every challenge to be the one that brought this to a grinding halt. I don't think I've ever felt like something was as in alignment as I did this day, and clearly it was not my mindset (lol). Furthermore, the people... the fucking people in my life right now, god damn. It's like magic meets magic meets magic everywhere I go. Universe is showing up loud and proud so I just keep listening to her and telling myself I can trust even when it feels like I can't. Lots of other random, small and neat things happened after I took the leap. For example, I got the entire row to myself in the plane, a stranger gave me a free PCR test, and the first person I connected with after getting off my plane became someone dear to my heart. It goes without saying that the touchdown into Costa Rica was one I will never forget... welcome to the jungle!
Adventure Awaits,
Mandeebeth
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