Why a trip (and a lot of chocolate) inspired me to do things differently
Well, hello 2025! It is hard to believe we walked the bridge from 2024 to 2025. I must make a small confession. I actually typed, “That one year has ended, and another one begins.” I quickly deleted it because that is false, and I’ll tell you why.
I’ve shifted my belief system to see each year as a bridge of opportunity to move forward with the lessons, love, and light from the previous year into the next. This allows us to see more clearly and move daily with intention and purpose. So if this is true, why would we want a year to end? Hopefully, you are nodding your head or saying, “Amen.”
My Last Work Day of December 2024
If you read my December letter, I took a much-needed break. I was burned out from a whopping 128 business hotel nights, planning for a new podcast, and #allthethings! I’m writing this after a 2.5-week break from work and pretty much everything, tbh.
Lobster Sightings in Panama City
So what did I do with the time? First, I must tell you that it went way too quickly. I thought I would begin the year organized, and I’m more organized than December 31, but not as much as I would like today. I’m okay with that and can say it with a smile.
Back to how I used the time, I went on a much-needed vacation to Panama City and Bocas Del Toro in Panama followed by a private sound bath with soul sisters and time at Miraval Austin.
It was my first time in the country of Panama and I fell in love. Think of it as a larger version of New York City with more affordable Michelin-inspired meals and beaches.
Lunch Stop in Bocas
I spent a lot of time eating outdoors. If you know me, you know how big of a deal this is for me. And yes, I went without a scarf. I am notorious for pulling out a headscarf for every weather situation, and I didn’t even pack one for this trip. I also spent a lot of time in the water, sand, and the jungle. I left with a renewed appreciation for the simplicity of life. Thanks to visits to a cacao farm, a biodiversity museum, and tours from locals, I was also reminded that we are global citizens. As Stephen A. Reger says, “What happens to one of us happens to all of us.”
By the time I left Panama, I had decided I would not have a word of the year in 2025. I know, I know. Since this blog was launched in 2018, I’ve started each year with my word of the year. This year, one word feels too limiting, as I strongly desire to shift my way of moving in the world.
Spotted at a Restaurant in Bocas
I want to slow life down a tad bit to enjoy each moment. I’d like to see the beauty in each person I meet, have more time for myself, and create content that will inspire each of us to do good in the world or within ourselves. That’s a tall task, friends, and one word will not get me there. Last year, a beloved soul challenged me to shift my thinking from “Doing, Being, and Having” to “Be.Do.Have.”
The Be.Do.Have. principle explains that if we move our focus from what we have or don’t have to who we want to be and align our goals and actions with that state of being, we’ll achieve our “haves” as intended for us by God, the universe, or insert the higher being that is right for you. To bottom line it, you would shift from I’ll do it when I have it, and then I’ll be who I want to be to who I must be and what I must do to have what is right for me.
So what does this look like in the real world?
- Define Your Desired Being: Clearly articulate who you want to be. Reflect on the characteristics, values, and behaviors of this ideal self. For instance, if you aim to be a more compassionate person, identify what compassion means to you and how it manifests in daily interactions.
- Align Daily Actions with Your Intention: Once you’ve defined your desired identity, consciously choose actions that reflect this self-concept. If your goal is to be more organized, implement daily habits such as planning your schedule, decluttering your workspace, or setting priorities for tasks.
- Practice Mindful Moments, Reflect and Realign: Regularly assess your behaviors and thoughts to ensure they are in harmony with your desired identity. Journaling can be a valuable tool for this purpose, helping you to process experiences and make necessary adjustments.
Back to Panama. As I was thinking through this principle and whether it was meant to be my annual intention, I visited the Oreba Chocolate Farm for a private tour. After arriving by water taxi, I spent nearly three hours with the Oreba tribe. The Orebas are an indigenous community in Panama’s Bocas del Toro Province that is known for cacao cultivation and organic and artisanal processes.
Our guides shared with us the simplicity of their way of life. Literally, everything they eat is from their land, and it comprises mostly cacao. They even brush their teeth with cacao!
We dug into their culture, history, and way of life. What was most surprising to me was that our tour guide shared that there is little mental health illness, and they rarely get sick. By honoring their history and the integrity of the land, they don’t survive — they thrive.
My Joyful Tour Guides
Here’s where the Stephen A. Reger quote kicks in. And a short history lesson for you. I promise it is worth it, so stick with me.
The Oreba Cooperative in Panama, comprises over 30 Ngäbe indigenous families. Each family works together to cultivate cacao using traditional and organic methods. Their cacao plants have faced significant challenges from fungal diseases and other similar diseases.
The spread of these fungal diseases were facilitated by human movement and trade, when those who desired to make more cacao faster and cheaper brought cacao from Colombia and Africa to their tribe. Today more than 85% of their crop is impacted by fungus that they fight daily. Their only option was to focus on quality of their product instead of quantity to earn a decent living. They were told to use pesticide to kill the fungi and produce more crops.
The tribe said no, as it was more important to them to retain the integrity of the land. “What happens to one of us happens to all of us.” If you missed the point, a decision by business owners in another country impacted their tribe by harming their crops, but it also increased the prices of cacao for all of us while decreasing the amount of cacao the entire world could produce without disease.
After our short educational experience, our guides showed us all the steps that are performed to achieve their high-quality cacao. We ate raw cacao, roasted cacao, and melted cacao. My favorite was the cacao hot chocolate. With only cacao and water, they make the most delicious warm drink that is served in a coconut shell.
Yours Truly Making a Cacao Paste
If you head over to my Instagram story, you’ll find videos and pictures of me using a stone to knead cacao seeds, which turn into a paste. It is with this paste that chocolate is made and it is so good! The tribe also served us one of their traditional meals, including chicken, roots, and greens. It was filling and incredibly full of flavor.
A Traditional Orbea Lunch…Eso Es Bueno
During the water taxi ride back to Bocas, I realized they were the embodiment of Be.Do.Have. Simply being and believing in a high power means they have everything they desire to thrive. I chuckled as they said they love not having email because it wasn’t needed. I didn’t check work email the entire 2.5 weeks I was out of the office. Permission granted not to feel guilty!
As I head back to work in an incredibly busy legislative cycle where all 50 states are in what we call “long session,” meaning every state legislature will work for an extended time, I know the principle of Be.Do.Have. is right for me.
Simply Being at Miraval Austin on January 1st
I would love to hear from you. What is your intention for the year, word choice, or resolution? Please send me a note at info@terribroussardwilliams.com. I’ll send you a reply back with 1-2 tips for things that might help you stay on track.
Cheers to 2025! May our walk through this period of life be filled with light, love, and desire to treat our neighbors like ourselves.
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