Never in my life have I been so far away and felt so at home. Just five months ago, I found myself embarking on a journey that would transform my life. I have made several presentations of my experiences, yet, I still cannot find the words to share the adventure.

My words will never do justice for the experience itself. Nevertheless, if I can even share just a glimpse of my transformation, then maybe a small piece of my insight will help you reach your own readiness to try an Outward Bound excursion.

I certainly did not know what awaited me when I boarded the plane. In fact, I was not even aware of my mere existence. I was stuck in a surreal reality that made me feel as if I were in a deep dream-like haze. Even upon arrival at CRROBS base camp in San Jose; I remained in a state of dissociation. It would be three days later when the haze would lift.

Mother Nature stripped me raw with her thick mud, insistent rain, and rough terrain. By the end of each day, the sounds of nature became a lullaby for my worn-out mind and body to fall asleep. There was no hiding from nature. As the Costa Rican rain poured, the water washed me of my normal veil of material things. I was left to reveal my genuine self to people that I had never before met in my life.

We hide a lot from other people behind a curtain of material: our fancy cars, our cell phones, our houses. Ellen Goodman wrote, "Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for – in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." Masks provide the illusion that we have assimilated into society. We hide because we are scared of others. Yet, why do we hide mostly from ourselves?

I hid because I was afraid of me. I was afraid of my inner-critic judging me a failure. The inner-critic is just an illusion. Until you are stripped of it, you are not even aware of its presence.

When Mother Nature stripped me, she stripped me of my illusion. She unburdened me from the weight of prejudices and expectations. I was left with the simplicity and beauty of life.

With only the pure essence of life, anyone can find the love that sculpts humanity; I was part of an "awesomebroso" family consisting of course mates I had never before met. We were all part of something bigger: learning to be our genuine selves. When we had to say goodbye, I realized why we hide. Love is fragile. It is a beautiful sculpture of the most precious crystals, but it feels as though it can be shattered with the smallest move – or even by saying "goodbye."

However, goodbye is not the end. It's the beginning. Goodbye is saying I know that sculpture of love is there even when not looking. Goodbye means I love you. Goodbye means pura vida! To the friends I met along my journey, I give my thanks and all my love. Goodbye, my "awesomebroso" family!

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