Travel isn’t over—it’s just more intentional.

When I was young, I loved to travel—it became my passion and my identity, a part of who I was and how I connected with the world around me, then.....everything changed in 2021, now I had to learn how to live and travel again with debilitating chronic pain. After a lot of soul searching, I have found my PURPOSE, to help people navigate unexpected circumstances, I have adopted the thought process of it is not about going back to who you were—it’s about discovering a new way forward. It means slowing down, listening to your body, and redefining what movement, adventure, and freedom look like now. There are challenges, adjustments, and moments of frustration, but also growth, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for each experience. Travel may look different, and life may feel unfamiliar at times, but it is still possible to explore, to create meaningful moments, and to move forward with intention—proving that purpose doesn’t end when life changes, it simply evolves.

Traveling Again: Finding My Way Back Through Pain

Living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is something that’s hard to explain unless you’ve felt it. The closest description I can give is that it feels like a blow torch is constantly on my lower extremity—24/7. The intensity ebbs and flows, some moments more tolerable than others, but it never fully goes away. It’s always there, a constant reminder that my life has changed.

There was a time I wondered if travel—something I once loved so deeply—was something I would have to let go of. Chronic pain doesn’t just affect your body; it changes how you see the world, mental health and how you plan, and how you move through life. Travel became something that required intention, preparation, and courage. It no longer looked effortless—it became something I had to re-learn.

I didn’t relearn it alone, traveling with my husband became part of that journey, it requires more planning, flexibility, and adjusting expectations along the way. He had to learn, alongside me, what travel looks like now—how to slow down, how to adapt plans, and how to support me through moments when my pain is intolerable and won't simply cooperate. Travel isn't just about navigating it's about adjusting your mindset, regulating your nervous system, and learning how to be present in the moment.

Traveling with my family has taken on an even deeper meaning, especially when I’m with my grandchildren. Those moments—watching them explore, laugh, and experience the world—have become some of the most meaningful parts of my journey. Chronic pain has a way of pulling you out of the present, and down a dark path of despair, but being with them grounds me. It reminds me to slow down, to soak in the moment, and to be fully there in ways that truly matter.

Along the way, I’ve spent a great deal of time researching and learning how to travel differently. I’ve intentionally sought out places that are more accommodating—not just for myself, but for others navigating chronic pain, mobility challenges, or using supports like canes or wheelchairs, this is a part of my PURPOSE. Accessibility, comfort, and environment matter more than ever to those who are in pain including mobility challenges such as I, and I’ve learned how to plan in a way that supports my body rather than works against it.

And then, I found Costa Rica.

Costa Rica became more than just a destination—it became my place of restoration. There is something about the climate, the warmth, and the humidity that works with my pain instead of against it. The cold tends to intensify my pain, but in Costa Rica, my pain is a little more tolerable, and I will take it! The constant tension eases, even if just slightly, and that shift alone gives me space to breathe.

But it’s not just the climate—it’s the entire experience.

The culture in Costa Rica carries a rhythm that feels different from the fast-paced world I came from. “Pura Vida” isn’t just a phrase; it’s a way of life. It’s slower, more intentional, more present. And for someone living with chronic pain, that pace matters. It allows me to move without constantly feeling like I’m falling behind. It reminds me that life isn’t meant to be rushed—it’s meant to be lived.

Then there’s the nature.

The sound of the rainforest, the ocean waves, the stillness between moments—it all works together to calm my nervous system in a way I didn’t fully understand until I experienced it. Chronic pain keeps mind and body in a constant state of alert, like it’s always bracing for something like a threat that never quite goes away. In Costa Rica, something shifts, I mentally begin to feel safe again. my mind quiets., my breath deepens. and for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like I’m just surviving—I feel like I’m living. This is what my HOPE is for you, for those who have given up on the possibility of living fully again.

Traveling now looks different than it once did. I move slower. I listen more. I rest when I need to. I plan differently. But I also experience things more deeply than I ever did before. Pain has changed me, but it has also taught me how to be present in a way I never was before.

Costa Rica became my reminder that even with pain, life isn’t over—it’s just different. It showed me that I can still explore, still feel joy, and still create meaningful experiences. It taught me that purpose doesn’t disappear because life gets hard—in many ways, it becomes clearer.

I may carry pain with me, but I also carry perspective, resilience, and a renewed sense of what truly matters.

And that, to me, is what it means to LIVE LIFE AGAIN. Through my own experience and extensive research, I have identified and compiled places around the world that are more accommodating for individuals living with chronic pain, mobility challenges, or disabilities. This is an ongoing list that continues to grow, and for a small fee to cover my time and research, I offer access to these resources for others looking to travel more confidently and comfortably. Currently there are 10 places listed....and growing.

Accessible & Disability Friendly Destination ($25)