I was an unintended nomad in Los Angeles in 2015 following a divorce. My income as a yoga teacher was not enough to even rent a room. I couldn't afford to live in LA anymore, and I didn't want to go home to Mississippi. What was I going to do? Sell my soul to a job I hated just for a chance to survive, or create a new life? What I would come to learn is that unexpected adversities can lead to a life of fulfillment and adventure.

My mantra for that whole year was: I just want to go somewhere tropical, teach yoga and bartend on the beach. How can I do that? Well, the road to get there is a long story, so I'll save it for another day. But I did get there. By great chance.

Towards the end of that year, I was fortunate to be house sitting for a week, though unsure of where I would land next. Something had to give. I knew I had to take action somehow if I were going to actualize that dream of traveling and teaching. I had recently read an article from a yoga teacher I knew of who did just that, spent his life traveling to great places and teaching.

What if I just asked him for some advice?

I was a bit nervous, but I did reach out to him. I explained who I was and who my mentor in yoga was, as I knew he'd know her. I simply asked him for some tips on how to get started traveling to teach. To my surprise, he actually responded. He did have some good advice which he graciously shared. However, he also dropped a proverbial bomb on me. He knew a couple who owned a bed and breakfast in Costa Rica and were looking for a yoga teacher. Would I like him to pass along my information?

I sat back in my seat, stunned. Why, yes sir, I would love that. I had never been to Costa Rica, but it was tropical, and it was yoga. Would they accept me? How would I afford to even get there. I was uncertain, but I knew a window had been opened, even if just a window of hope.

Sometimes the unexpected happens, if you open yourself to the possibilities.

A few days later, an email came. Tiffany and Nome Lakin were looking for a live-in yoga teacher for their property Encantada Ocean Cottages in Costa Rica. They would exchange my room and board for teaching daily classes and working in their restaurant taking care of guests and making drinks. I had to let that sink in. Tropical, teaching yoga, bartending on the beach, all in exchange for free rent and food. They even offered me a small stipend.

Was this real? Had everything I asked for just been laid out in front of me?

I was too shocked to cry. I was numb, yet alive. I believed in the impossible, but that didn't mean I expected it. We scheduled a phone interview, and I landed the position. I would leave in a month. Oh, and they purchased my plane ticket.

Again, speechless. I could not believe what had been manifested. But it was. I made all of my arrangements, said farewell to my friends, and boarded the plane. When I landed in San José, there was a driver waiting for me holding a sign with my name on it.

The three hour journey to my location was beautiful. Lush green rolling hills passed my window with varieties of foliage. The blue sky welcomed me. Winding through local villages gave me a perspective on the economy here: this is not a wealthy nation. Costa Rica means "rich coast." I would come to understand the fullness of that definition however.

When the Pacific coast finally came into view, I knew I was close to home. Darkness had settled in as we pulled up to a sweet property in a very small town whose address was a longitude and latitude. Excitement and trepidation were present in equal measure. What awaited me? I was in a new world. Until I opened the car door.

Humidity and heat enveloped me immediately. Wait. Having lived in California for nine years, I had escaped the suffocating weather of the south. Now, I had thrust myself right back into the midst of it. What had I done? I was faced with myself in paradise. I was "home" in a whole new way, and I didn't like it. How could I complain? Oh, I found a way. But I was here for six months. There was no backing out. Besides, didn't I say I wanted tropical?

As I walked down the stone pathway towards the office, I was immediately greeted by my gracious hosts who made me feel right at home. We shared a meal together and discussed life on the island and my responsibilities. No, Costa Rica is not an island, but man did it quickly begin to feel that way to me.

The chef, a local woman named Elena, prepared a typical Tico dish: a casado, which is always rice and beans, a vegetable, plantains, optional meat and salad. Elena would become my dear friend, even though our communication would rely heavily on sounds and gestures due to our language barrier. She spoke no English and my Spanish was quite basic.

Shortly after dinner, I retired for the night and anxiously awaited the following morning when I would get a full view of the property. My room was small with open windows for ventilation as it did not have air conditioning. I didn't mind that at all actually, even after my complaining about the heat. This room was adorable, and for the next six months, it was mine. After my year of shifting from place to place in Los Angeles, my own space was a dream.

The next morning brought with it a whole new sense of gratitude. First light was around 5:15am and the birds were well into their morning song. My eyes popped open, and I could hear the rush of waves crashing the shore. Could they really be that close to me? I rose quickly, brushed my teeth, threw on a cool dress and stepped out of my door.

My view was impeccable. The property was lined with palm trees and surf boards separating it from the black sand beach of Esterillos Este. It was high tide at the end of the rainy season so the water was roaring close. I couldn't believe my eyes. What a gift and a blessing. In that moment I realized that I was standing in the middle of both worlds, a combination of home in Mississippi and the home I'd adopted in California. Beauty, warmth, salty air, and waves that beckoned me.

Looking at all of the beauty around me, I settled into the motto of this bountiful country, Pura Vida. A simple, easy-going approach to life, Pura Vida means "Pure Life." But they mean, "Good Life." They live it, they feel it, and when they say it, you know it. The good life for them is not filled with all the things money can buy. Instead, it is a wealth of contentment and simplicity. I was so ready to embrace it.

As the sun set on my first day, I cried. I had been chasing this one my whole life. The red ball of glowing light descended upon the water's horizon. I had the full view as grand as I had always imagined. The reflection cascaded across the vast ocean, over the rolling waves to the black sand where I stood. The sky held profound pinks and translucent blues. Gratitude filled my being and I was at peace.

It would take me many months to recognize, but living in Costa Rica felt like living in Disney World. One big playground of waterfalls, zip lining, mountains, beaches, monkeys, sloths and more. I had manifested a dream, and each moment taught me that impossible is a state of mind.

Though my contract was for six months, I would remain in the area for a year. I look forward to sharing my stories and invite you to take this journey of exploration with me.