When you live in tropical paradise, sometimes it is hard to keep track of what day or month it is. Like, when did December happen? And Santa is coming in t-minus twenty days?! Although holiday decorations have started to appear around Tamarindo, I am so used growing up with cold weather and Christmas music on dedicated radio stations to help usher in the holiday season. Fortunately, I am heading back to the US next week to spend time with the family for the holidays. Unfortunately I really, really, really, REALLY don’t want to go.

The past month and half have gone by so quickly. I have started to get my bearings with my new work (check out www.robertaugustsurf.wordpress.com), spent some time with some amazing people, and am just taking it all in. Every day there is some moment where I have to pinch myself. I said to my friend the other day that if something were to happen to me tomorrow, I could whole-heartedly say that I was following my dreams and LIVING and LOVING life. And how can you not be more alive charging down a head-high wave? (Tamarindo finally got some swell this week!) I am beyond amazed at what you can do physically and mentally when you set your mind to it.

So as I have been experiencing all this, I got a lovely email in my inbox this morning from one of my childhood friends. She prefaced the email that she never, ever forwards on emails (which is totally true) and therefore I figured I should really read it. Well, it certainly made me smile. The email had some great wise words of advice, and three really stood out:

#8 Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.

#9 Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the one way to live life completely.

#14 Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.