What Inspires You?

Recently I took a vacation, a "rejuvenation" trip, to Costa Rica - the country where part of my family is from and where I always want to travel when I feel the need to absorb the “pura vida” lifestyle (pure life) typical of its culture and healing power found in its natural environment. What I didn't know was that I was on a little adventure in search of my roots. It turned out to be a place that inspires me in more than one way.

It was the first time that I chose to travel Costa Rica with limited help from my family while accompanied by my boyfriend, the best travel buddy I could ask for. I had two goals: 1. See whales in natural habitat at Bahia Ballena. 2. Swim in the crispy freshness of the rivers.

Another thing was.... I didn't want to think about my jobs or even art (oh my!). My mind had to be blank, with a clean slate.

Having had my share of travels (twice to Europe, a few US cities and several to Costa Rica) I had a fair idea of how the type of traveler both with and without Andres (my boyfriend). I like "half-way" plans mapped with possibilities despite potential "failures." We stayed with my parents who did an excellent job at hosting us and out on the road we roomed at a cute bed and breakfast in the rainforest. We wanted adventure. We weren't concerned with the fancy or the luxurious. I wanted to be as close to the culture and the natural as possible.

And did it work? I felt like I had been gone a whole month. The beginning of my inspiration process began with this preparation: simplicity and open-mindedness of an adventurous traveler.

Won't bore you with details, so I'll flash forward to what I gained from this trip. 

I learned that I am definitely not a beach person but a forest and rivers person.

I learned that I can let go of the tangible with the intangible - with laughter.

I went water rafting and zip lining and learned that genuine trust is a risk and a reward in disguise.

I balanced river rocks onto river rocks with only my hands and felt the beautiful sensation of unlocking a hidden door.

And what struck me the most - when art started to flood back into the wheels of my mind - was when I learned that my family is a family of song. There is a long history of singers and even I see it continuing in the younger generations. Woah.... I discovered a hidden jewel in my identity. And what's more, I realized that identity comes from our roots which stem from culture, and culture is reflected in ART.

Funny thing, identity. It's what keeps us moving forward. It's what artists sometimes lack and seek within their work. It's what we all crave for.

Something I frequently say is... there is a difference between knowing and realizing. We might know something, but realizing comes with experience and a deeper understanding of what we think we might know. By trusting ourselves more inspirations will unlock and our own identity will begin to unravel.

So here's a question for you, reader. What type of art do you see in your family? Is it music, textile work (sewing, crocheting, etc..), cooking, hand crafting, woodwork, dance, painting, drawing, sculpting, storytelling....? There's an infinite number of things considered as art. Just remember.... Art is a way of life, it is a reflection of your world projected into a type of language (a type of "art").  ;)