What You Leave Behind

Last year, my wife Becca and I spent four weeks in Malpais, Costa Rica. I left a better person. I thought more clearly. I acted more kindly. But when we got home, that bothered me. It felt extractive. I had taken all this energy from the place and brought it home. I didn't leave anything behind. The energy only flowed one way.

This year, we committed to seven weeks. Before we even got there, I made a decision. I wanted to find ways to give back. I came across an environmental organization called Casa Pampa and reached out. The founder, an Argentine named Nahuel, wrote back.

Nahuel studied organic agriculture in Buenos Aires when nobody took it seriously. He turned down an executive job at 25 and left for Costa Rica to surf. He landed in Santa Teresa close to 20 years ago. He started composting in the local schoolyard. He taught business owners. He taught kids. One of those kids, Genesis, recently turned up as a 27-year-old environmental engineer for the local government. Nahuel plants seeds. Sometimes literally. Sometimes in people.

Becca and I started volunteering on the farm. Then we offered what we actually do. Strategy. Brand. Purpose work. In return, Nahuel introduced us to experiences and community we never would have found on our own. We ended up paddling out together before sunrise, catching waves by moonlight. An experience I never would have had if I hadn't pushed beyond volunteering to actually build a relationship.

I'm starting to think of this as regenerative exploration. Not tourism. Not travel. Exploration where the energy goes both ways. It's about building relationships that keep feeding both sides long after you've gone home.

Read the full piece on Substack.

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