While traveling in Costa Rica with my family, I experienced 3 unforgettable moments of pure service. Each one left a mark. Here is the first one.
We were heading to Cahuita National Park. Just before the entrance, a group of people in green shirts were lined up across the road. Impossible to ignore. “Do you need a guide? Do you need a guide?” I politely declined, but honestly, I was already irritated.
Inside the park, we tried spotting wildlife on our own. And it quickly became obvious that it would be close to impossible without a local guide. The kids, walking ahead as usual, suddenly called out: “Mum, look! A sloth, hiden in the tree!” A man had just pointed it out to them, then continued walking with a woman, occasionally stopping to show her more things here and there.
Curious, I asked gently: “Are you a guide? Would you mind if we joined you?”
He turned to his client: “Would you be okay with them joining us?”
Lucky us, she said yes. So did he. And off we went.
That tour was pure magic: sloths, green basilisks, howler monkeys, a yellow eyelash viper… and precious tips for spotting wildlife on our own.
What stays with me
> Asking for what you want takes courage. On the outside I looked at ease. But inside, it took guts to reach out.
> The guide clearly didn’t need us. He already had a client. He never tried to sell us anything. He simply shared something with the kids, then walked on. No pressure, no pitch. Just presence. And his loyalty to his client came first: asking her permission before even considering my request earned my deep respect.
> We experienced the guide’s value before we ever paid him.
That’s how I choose my own guides in life: They don’t need me. They honour their clients. And they let me feel deeply what working with them is like, before money enters the picture.
It’s also how I choose to build my own practice.
You don’t need me. And I don’t need you. But if this story stirred something in you—about yourself? the path you want to create? what might be possible next?, then maybe it’s a sign we’re meant to have a deep and meaningful conversation.
Love,
Delphine
Photo – July 2025 – Costa Rica – a yellow viper our guide spotted in Cahuita National Park