Aging Heroes

08/18/2025

A big shout-out to Sandra Wilkerson Queen, an incredible writer and a shining example of what it means to be an Aging Hero. Also, mad props to Charleen Stokes, who organized and orchestrated the most meaningful retreat of our lives! The Satsang Project forever!

"The Latitude Adjustment," a locally-produced podcast by Rusty and Erica Harrison, offers a 30-minute escape filled with humor, practical advice, and inspiration.

08/11/2025

For the better part of a year, we have had the privilege of collaborating with the extraordinary Charleen Stokes, creator and guide of

Charleen is one of those rare souls who can hold space for both profound transformation and lighthearted joy, often in the same breath.

She is a masterful facilitator, a compassionate listener, and a visionary who seems to intuit exactly what each moment is asking for.

Through our partnership with the Satsang Project, we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate and witness Charleen facilitating international wellness retreats in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

We have watched her guide groups through everything from sunrise meditations to breakthrough conversations with such grace and grounded wisdom that participants left not just refreshed but truly changed.

She brings a wealth of insight into nervous system regulation, holistic healing, and community transformation, and she threads those teachings through every interaction in a way that feels personal, profound, and real.

Partnering with her continues to deepen our impact, our joy, and our shared commitment to intentional living, and we cannot recommend the Satsang Project highly enough.

Aging Heroes
WanderKin Photography

Discover more: www.satsangproject.com

08/10/2025

On our wellness journey in Puerto Viejo, my husband and I didn’t just pack shoes, we packed purpose.

We love Natural World Eco because they’re more than footwear. They’re a statement. A choice. A step toward protecting the planet we adore.

Every footprint we left on those black sand beaches reminded us, sustainability isn’t just a value, it’s a lifestyle. And walking together in shoes we believe in? That’s wellness for the soul.

08/10/2025

The Power of Your Authentic Self

The truth is, being your authentic self is not always the easy road. It means walking through storms with your head held high. It means sitting with the full range of human emotions, joy, heartbreak, curiosity, grief, hope, and everything in between.

Not everyone will understand you.
Not everyone will agree with you.

And that’s okay, your authenticity isn’t meant to be universally approved, it’s meant to be true.

When you strip away the masks, you become magnetic, not because you’re perfect, but because you’re real.

Your imperfections become someone else’s permission to breathe easier.
Your courage becomes someone else’s roadmap.

Life will throw its challenges.
Let them carve depth, not doubt.

Stand in your truth, even if your voice shakes. The right people will feel your light.

Shine on little rockstars.

08/09/2025

For our last breakfast in Puerto Viejo we went back to because you always end on a high note.

Cheese + jalapeño bagel with cream cheese = pure magic.

A little spice, a lot of comfort, and the perfect bite to say pura vida until next time.

Cheers,

08/07/2025

Through My Lens: La Casita de Monli

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica | 2 Michelin Stars

This is where the ocean meets the plate, no passport required.

La Casita de Monli serves fish like a love letter to the sea. Red snapper, tuna, octopus, mahi mahi; each dish so fresh you half expect it to swim off the table. Sashimi that melts like memory. Ceviche that snaps you back to life. Chargrilled filets so tender, even the bones feel poetic.

It’s not just a meal, it’s a ceremony. A slow, intentional celebration of flavor, fire, and the fisherman’s early rise.

You don’t rush it.
You savor.
You listen.
You let the salt and citrus do what they do best.

And when you’re done?

You leave lighter. Nourished in a way that has nothing to do with calories.

Erica
🌺

08/07/2025

Through My Lens: Fueling Joy at Port Vell

This morning, we didn’t just eat, we celebrated.

Port Vell in Puerto Viejo served up a full-on joy feast, starting with the Energy Boost Smoothie, which felt like someone blended the sunrise with a power hug. One sip and I swear I could hear my mitochondria applauding. Clean, vibrant, and alive, exactly what your body wants after a salty ocean swim or a long travel day.

Then came the French toast. Oh. My. Goodness. Golden, warm, and just the right kind of indulgent, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and topped like it was ready for a photo shoot.

And the crepes? Delicate, dreamy, and filled with flavor that whispered you deserve this in every bite.

Port Vell isn’t just a place to eat, it’s a place to pause, refuel, and smile big. The vibe is relaxed, the people are kind, and everything on the table feels like a love letter from the Caribbean coast.

If you’re in Puerto Viejo and want your morning to taste like joy? This is the spot.

—Erica , Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

08/06/2025

Through My Lens: Pastry, Presence, and the Quiet Art of Starting Fresh at Pan Pay Bakery

There’s a quiet kind of magic that happens at Pan Pay Café in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, where buttery croissants meet the scent of ocean breeze, and where the day doesn’t start with a to-do list, but with the soft crunch of a fresh baguette.

Pan Pay isn’t flashy. It’s clean, calm, and confidently local. You won’t find fusion flair or Instagram theatrics here. What you will find is handcrafted bread still warm from the oven, house-made pastries layered with tropical fruit, and coffee that shows up the way good coffee should; bold, rich, and reliable.

The maracuyá pastry alone feels like a story of the tropics, zesty, bright, and wrapped in flaky, golden layers of buttery joy. Every bite whispers of the jungle and the coastline, like a quiet reminder to slow down and savor what’s in front of you.

Pan Pay feels like it’s been quietly feeding the town for decades and in a way, it has. Locals stop in for their daily bread. Travelers trickle in, delighted to discover a place that doesn’t perform for tourists but serves something real.

The prices are fair, the service quick and functional, and the vibe refreshingly unfussy.

If you’re looking for a place to reflect, refuel, or realign…this is it.

As someone who professionally guides people through life’s transitions, I couldn’t help but see Pan Pay as a metaphor. This is how we begin again: gently, with care, and maybe with a flaky pastry in hand.

Don’t miss:
🌺 The maracuyá danish (yes, you deserve it).
🌺 Baguettes to-go for beachside sandwiches.
🌺 Homemade juices that taste like the jungle whispered them into being.