A Tiny Feel Good Update
From your Doctor Mariana :)
Hello dear readers!
I have some exciting updates to share as I work my way through the Costa Rican healthcare system and establish myself professionally again in this beautiful country. I arrived here five weeks ago to attend my youngest brother’s wedding (which was an absolute blast!), and I plan to stay for most of the year to offer my workshops, classes, courses, and more in person. It has been an interesting and rewarding challenge so far, and thankfully, everything has been flowing nicely.
During this time, I’ve been reconnecting with colleagues, knocking on doors, and spreading the word because I’m ready to begin doing more offline work in all the creative ways I love, alongside my writing and this newsletter. It’s already been incredibly invigorating to see different opportunities unfolding: creating a course for a palliative care foundation, collaborating with a colleagues, doing medical home visits (which I absolutely love!), delivering my first First Aid course (+ soon my second workshop on journalling as a tool for mental health), and working with the local city hall on a new community project focused on teaching elderly care basics, pain management, palliative care, and preventing carer burnout.
As you can see, it’s all very exciting, and I’m ready for it. What excites me most about this process is witnessing how much one person can create and build from scratch simply by daring to dream and taking action. It may sound cliché, but experiencing all of this while realising that I’m the one making it happen fills me with immense pride.
A few days ago, someone thanked me for my “humanitarian efforts,” and those words stayed with me. They reminded me how needed and valued this work is — and above all, how much I love being the kind of doctor and person who tries to reach communities in meaningful, everyday ways to help improve lives, even if only a little at a time. Every little helps.
What’s also beautiful is that the more opportunities arise, the more inspired I feel to write — which means you all benefit from these offline experiences too.
Thank you immensely for being here, and I hope you continue accompanying me on this journey. Deciding to come to Costa Rica was both an important and strategic choice — not to mention that I was craving family time and some tropical warmth. I truly believe the seeds I’ve been trying to plant for so long are finally finding fertile soil here, and I’m embracing the process with excitement and gratitude.
I hope you’re enjoying good health and peaceful moments wherever you are, and I wish you a lovely weekend ahead.
I’ll be back soon with more of our usual educational content, reflections on life and health, and my quirky, creative pursuits to keep things light, fun, and useful.
Much love!
Dr. Mariana
P.S. Here are some photos from my first few weeks here, including the first aid workshop and its goodie bag, my wedding look, and a camping beach trip I did with my mum and some friends. An absolute tropical recharge! Enjoy and talk again soon.❤️
The You pics are my fav’s 😇