A Free Horse, No Waves, and Three Connections I Wasn't Looking For

I was walking down the beach in Malpais, Costa Rica, surfboard under my arm, when I saw a horse standing alone near the water. Not tied up. Not behind a fence. Just standing there. Free.

A year ago, I think I would have paused, noted it, and continued on. After all, I had an appointment with some waves. But something about this year has been slowing me down. Making me more willing to be with what's in front of me instead of heading toward what's next.

So I put my board down. I talked to the horse. Gently. I introduced myself. And the horse made a choice. It walked over to me. We spent about five to ten minutes together. No agenda. No performance. Two living things sharing a stretch of beach in the early morning light.

When I told my friend Chris Lombard about it, he called the encounter sacred. Chris is a horseman in Maine who has been teaching me about presence, vulnerability, and leading with love throughout this adventure. He said it's extremely rare to meet a horse out in the world that is truly free. And in that freedom, the horse chose to come closer.

After, I headed into the water. I didn't catch a single wave. But I had a great conversation with Rich, a friend from the UK I'm building a friendship with one surf session at a time. Walking back, I met a Canadian family and showed them the tidal pools. James and I grabbed coffee the next day. Just like that. A new friend.

Three connections in a single morning. One with a horse. One deepened. One brand new. None of them on a to-do list. Maybe that's the lesson I keep learning. Presence isn't the doorway to getting what you want. It's the doorway to receiving what's already there.

Read the full piece on Substack.

Learn more about the adventure at www.heart-strong.org