A Life Unexpected, A Life by Intention

I came to Cozumel for a two-week holiday.

I was newly single, my children were grown, and life was shifting in ways I hadn't quite anticipated. I was somewhere between what had been and whatever might come next.

I didn't have a grand plan for what came next. I simply took my next right step.

And then, quite unexpectedly, I found myself here.

What began as a happy accident of fate slowly became a life I chose to build with intention.

I gave myself time and space to settle into my body, deepen my practices, and discover what felt meaningful to me.

I began creating a community rooted in honesty, openness, support, and authentic connection. I allowed myself the freedom to roam when curiosity called, and the permission to be still, quiet, and reflective when that was what I needed.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn't simply moving through the life in front of me. I was consciously discovering how I wanted to live it.

I dove headfirst into the things that had always fascinated me.

Yoga and embodied movement became ways of exploring the relationship between my body, my thoughts, and my emotions. I deepened my studies of mindful, nonviolent communication and the language of emotion, discovering how much our bodies have to tell us when we're willing to listen.

I became especially curious about the body's natural responses to stress and trauma, and how allowing those responses to move toward completion can support a return to ease.

And, of course, I dove into the sea.

The ocean became a place for movement, stillness, play, and discovery. Sometimes I swam with purpose. Sometimes I simply floated. And sometimes I let the water remind me that I didn't always need to know where I was going.

Of course, my story didn't begin in Cozumel.

Water has been part of my life since childhood, when I was a competitive swimmer. My curiosity about the natural world led me to study biology, with a focus on plant ecology and environmental science.

Along the way, I've worn many hats. I've been a teacher, a manager in the hospitality industry, a social justice advocate, and even a politician. Each chapter brought its own lessons about people, relationships, community, and the many ways we experience the world.

I'm also the mother of four grown children and grandmother to two, relationships that continue to bring new perspectives, unexpected adventures, and plenty of opportunities to grow.

Looking back, I can see that curiosity, connection, and a willingness to explore have been threads running through my life all along.

Tranquil Island Retreats grew naturally from the life I've created here.

I wanted to share something of what Cozumel has offered me: the space to slow down, listen to my body, follow my curiosity, connect with others, and discover new possibilities.

Not because everyone needs to move to an island or turn their life upside down. But because I believe we all deserve opportunities to explore what feels meaningful, to experience ourselves in new ways, and to discover what might be waiting just beyond the familiar.

My retreats are an invitation to do just that. Through movement, nature, meaningful conversation, quiet reflection, and a little adventure, there's room to discover your own rhythm.

You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you're looking for.

After all, I simply took my next right step.

And look what happened.