Escamilla Wrap Up: 2023
Gratitude & Goodbyes & Book Recommendations
This year has passed like warpspeed, being pulled forward, in both exhilarating and disorienting ways. Michael and I are so grateful for our lives here, for our children, our safety, and for what’s ahead.
Gratitude for Friends & Opportunities
More than anything this year, we have grown to adore our friends who have supported us this year in a myriad of ways. Some visited us from afar—Liz & Hilda!, some we caught up with in the US—Ruben, Scott, Travis, Tracee, Amber & Zina, a few did both— Christine & Holiday, others are local Nikki, Ronny, and Mia’s family—and are integrated into our daily lives from morning walks, sharing meals and birthdays, and helping each other out. We also felt a lot healing with reconnecting with our daughter Olivia. 💜
Opportunities—Retreats
Retreats were a theme of the year for 2023. Kelley Colihan Robertson and I hosted neurodiverse families here in Cabuya in June for our Tranquilo retreat. It was a ton of work ( lol, I’m a Manifesting Generator 3/5, iykyk) for the first time planning, AND so worth it to see these families fully embraced as they experienced Costa Rica for the first time.
In the fall, I also co-hosted a day-long women’s retreat with my sisterfriends, Christine and Holiday in Mill Valley. I was able to combine breathwork, Gateless writing and energy work (thanks Janine) into a powerful session. Right after this retreat, the three of us attended Meg Sylvester’s The Miracle Way Training, which was a paradigm shifting experience for how to run a heart-centered business. We had a blast in the mountains of Costa Rica, and I learned so much.
This year I was able to complete a Breathwork Facilitator training with Pause, an organization I highly recommend. They are trauma informed, heart-centered in their approach, and offer radical acceptance to meet facilitators where they are at. They also sent gift packages and flowers, which were an unexpected touch. I’ve made a few close friends from the training as well. 💜 I’m growing in new ways by offering this modality and practicing it daily—helping with complex parenting challenges and my general stress management with the dumpster fire state of the world. A big thank you to all of the friends, family and new-to-me friends who offered to breathe with me during my practicum hours. I am offering more online hours in January, both donation based group sessions on the first Sunday evening of each month (Jan. 7th is our next one) as well as packages for 1:1 sessions. Send me a note if you are interested in joining.
Goodbyes
We had to adjust to seeing Harrison a lot less, only squeezing in two visits this year:
one in February (Thanks to Dushan and Robin Bilbija. 💜), and one in October/November. We made the best of both visits with horseback riding, attending his friend Aurora’s birthday, and a trip to Disneyland with his brother. My mama heart is learning to let go in fits and starts. Ultimately, having Harrison full time in San Jose is best for him. He did have a change in programs last month, but it seems this new one, Apollo day program, will be meeting his needs and interests more fully. And, he’s still doing regular activities with Shared Adventures, particularly archery and rock climbing in Santa Cruz.
Two sad permanent goodbyes, just a month apart were our cats Izzy (2 years) and Ike (12 years). Izzy contracted feline leukemia, which is common in Cabuya, and Ike died after being attacked by a friend’s dog—it was an accident, and no one was to blame, but whew, it was hard. Both of these were particularly hard on Lazlo, our deeply sensitive kiddo.
Reading Recommendations
When I feel unsure or even helpless, being quiet and reading are my two go-tos for finding clarity. Here is what I’ve been rereading and/or reading for the first time these last few months. A few of these I read in college in the 1990s, and it felt good to revisit them. The poems are new; their author, who has spent time in the US, is on IG, and is finally safe in Egypt. The graphic novel has been rushed back to print in the last month. Joe Sacco illustrated another book I’ve taught with Chris Hedges, and I love his journalistic approach.
May you be well these last few weeks of 2023. I look forward to connecting with you all in 2024. Now, back to packing so we can return to the US on Thursday. Big Love.
Safe travels, my dear one. It is an honor to share our lives, our hearts, and our work. I love you. Happy Holidays to you all!