Now I understand why people have been telling me — for as long as I can remember — how wonderful Costa Rica is!  I’m here teaching “Writing To Awaken” at Omega Blue Spirit, on the Nicoya Peninsula, and seeing that this country is even more amazing than I knew. The only sovereign nation in the Western hemisphere without a standing army, Costa Rica rates in the top tier for quality of life, education, ecological sustainability, and richness of flora and fauna worldwide. Blue Spirit, founded seven years ago by Dr. Stephan Rechtschaffen, is a place of restoration, renewal, and learning in the heart of this gorgeous land.  I’m so glad to be here and the workshop is going beautifully.