Let’s Blog it Out!

Last year was a turning point for me. I had this great opportunity to become a Partner in a consulting firm. It was the logical next step. But when decision time rolled around, I wasn’t feeling it. My head was on board, but my heart was not so much.

I usually head to a park to mull things over in moments like this. More recently, I started combining it with Meditation. I was able to create a daily meditation habit since 2020, even though I started flirting with it fifteen years ago. These practices help me tap into my intuition and clear up my thoughts.

So, what did I decide? It was time for a sabbatical! Besides chilling and traveling, I wanted to brush up on my French, dive deeper into Meditation in India, and hang out with friends and family in my country, Colombia, where I last lived in 2012. 

Eat, Pray, Love

Well, it was more like a French, Meditation, Laugh journey.

France welcomed me very warmly (literally!). Parisians were lovely since I landed -they wanted me to have a good time. I caught up with old friends from my masters’ days and hung out with buddies who decided to move to France to have 30 vacation days and eat at bistros. Why didn’t I stay? 🤔.

Paris is always fun; it hides places that can only be found by sneaking into the city. However, I wanted to get away and explore new places where I could practice my French. One of my BFFs from school lives in France, and she helped me find couches to surf in Saint-Alban, Bretagne, with two schoolteachers -lovely and peaceful- and in Bondigoux near Toulouse in an artist’s house -crazy and hectic-. My French, c’est pas mal. Duolingo works. Being in France was like meeting with a good old friend. It is a marvelous place.

Next stop: India. This was my second time there, first as a woman traveling alone. I started with the “Golden Triangle” in Delhi, Agra (hello, Taj Mahal), and Jaipur, the pink city famous for its fabrics, jewelry, and gemstones. Then, off to Agonda Beach in Goa for some sun-soaking.

India was an adventure! I traveled in rickshaws, Ubers, buses, trains, and planes. In the markets, bargaining is crucial since prices could be three times higher for foreigners. It felt safe most of the time, but the male-dominated culture was a bit unusual for me. I rarely saw women out and about, especially in Delhi.

Then, it was off to Rishikesh the “Yoga and meditation capital of the world” in the Himalayan foothills. I did a Meditation Teacher Training Course for a month. The days went from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, and I took Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy, and Mantra classes with some Ayurveda tips. There was no caffeine, alcohol, meat, or sugar. Talk about a real detox. The whole experience was terrific. I met wonderful and hilarious souls, and even crashed an Indian wedding. Lucky me!  

After that, I decided to try Vipassana, India’s most ancient meditation technique. It was a ten-day silent course that included food and accommodation. The days began with the ringing of a bell at 4 a.m. and finished at 9 p.m., in a cross-legged sitting pose, three breaks for meals, and 5-minute breaks to walk every hour. No external communication was allowed: phones, books, notebooks, or laptops. It was tough at first, but by the end, I was hooked. I highly recommend it! I wrote a blog post about this deep experience. 

I wrapped up my India trip in Ahmedabad, Udaipur, and Mumbai where I met a good friend. What a wonderful country, what wonderful people, and what wonderful food. I am totally in love with India. 

Unexpectedly, I ended up in Turkey for a week. I had a layover in Istanbul and decided to stick around. When I left the hotel and walked around the city, I felt like I was walking through history books: the Blue Mosque, the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople, the Byzantine period, and Ataturk. It was a great history refresher class and a magical trip. 

Finally, I went to Colombia to meet with my parents and friends, soak up the sun in Santa Marta, chill on a beautiful farm surrounded by coffee plantations and exuberant mountains near Pacho, and hang out in lovely Bogotá, my hometown.

My takeaway: We all deserve a sabbatical every now and then. If you can, don’t wait until you retire. It helps you rest deeply, reconnect with your creative self, and recharge your energy.

What’s Coming

• I have started a new season as an Independent Consultant in Sustainable Finance, so please feel free to reach out.
• I also have an eye on exploring technologies such as CleanTech, GreenFinTech, and AquaTech. I am looking for exciting developments to bring to Latam or ideas to start building something. Drop me a line if you have something in mind. Also happy to brainstorm!
• Blogging is a new territory, but I was always curious about it. Now it’s the time. I will write mainly about Sustainable Finance and meditation. I might throw in some random topics that pique my interest.
• Oh, and Meditation! I have a shiny new meditation teacher certificate, and I’m ready to spread the zen. Meditation classes start in-person and online on Saturday mornings in May. Shoot me a message if you’re interested! It’s donation-based. 

À bientôt