Love in the Jungle

On a regular old Thursday last week, I found myself repelling down slick rock inside the crater of a volcano in Costa Rica. 

It had taken a grueling 2.5 hours to arrive here through the rainforest: up root-riddled inclines, through the mist of low hanging clouds, and beneath the warning calls of birds hidden in the treetops. 

Like many long journeys, the beginning had held excitement and eagerness. My partner Chris and I started with little-kid-energy as we wondered what may lie ahead on the trail. By the time we finally arrived at the alpine lake that sat inside the volcano's crater, we were weary and bug-bitten. 

Taking off our shoes, we waded into the water and basked in the emerging sunshine. A friendly couple from New York shared their snacks with us, rejuvenating our spirit. We lingered. 

And then it was time to turn around and trek back to whence we came. 

It was daunting -- where we repelled into the crater we now had to tug ourselves upward with planful steps and shared encouragement. Then we had to slide, jump, side step, shuffle down the volcano's steep expanse. Yet, step by step, bit by bit, infusing laughter where we could -- we arrived back at the base of the volcano and headed straight to the showers to rinse off the remnants of the jungle. 

It's a real pleasure to witness your partner do something they never thought they could do. Chris does not do ultramarathons like I do; this was a huge new endeavor for him. He struggled at times, scraped up his knees and almost lost his shoes to the mud-- but not once did he suggest we turn around and let laying dogs lie. He chose to keep going. He chose adventure, with me. And I fell a bit more in love. 

Here's to getting out of our comfort zone and taking on life's incredible adventures -- a step at a time, with the people we love.