The light seeping through the high canopy was a soft, shifting green. Below the hanging vines, large, broad-leafed plants sat enormous and unmoved but for the landing of a bird or the leap of a frog. In the deep, cool undergrowth, the plant world stuttered with the life of animals. Here, in the light and in the shadows, the vibrancy of colors hummed.

A trail of leaf-cutter ants crossed the path before me. In the distance, I could hear a faint hiss and spray of a waterfall. The air even had the smell of fresh water. Somewhere further in the distance, a raging brook, gurgling and rushing, the force of the water knocking and tumbling stones.

As I walked along the path in this rainforest eco-reserve in Costa Rica, my soul became lighter. Thoughts of my recently failed marriage easily floated away. Since the divorce, I had spent a year travelling and hiking alone, gaining back some of the fitness of my youth. My skin was darkly-tanned, and I had grown more muscular and lean. As I walked in sandals, shorts and no shirt, the rope-like muscles in my arms and legs looked impressive. Even my abs had recently begun to show. I looked good and felt even better; I was getting my life back! I said to myself.

After a few more moments of walking, I could make out a clearing in the canopy overhead, not far off. Light poured down through a mist-filled gap in the trees. This must be the waterfall, I thought. I had planned to hike the six miles into the waterfall, spend an hour or so swimming and relaxing, and then hike back to my tourist cabin.

Then, suddenly, through the trees and soft, sunlit mist, I heard voices. Female voices. Maybe two or three women. All afternoon I hadn’t passed anyone on the trail. I had not expected to find anyone already there. It was foolish of me to expect to have the waterfall all to myself, but, nevertheless, that is what I had imagined. That is what I had wanted. My pure enjoyment and exuberance from a moment ago began to crumble. Then, carefully, I stopped myself. “This is ridiculous”, I said out loud. How could I let my attachment to an idea of how this beautiful day would unfold have so much power over my actually enjoying it. Patiently, and with a deep, slow breath, I tried to locate the source of my discomfort. It was a slight tightening in the chest, as it almost always was when minor things went wrong.

Taking another deep breath, I allowed the feeling in my chest to live, then bloom and finally fade away. “There,” I said softly in my mind. Now I was feeling light and content once more. I can do this. Looking toward the pillar of sunlight and water spray, I continued walking.

The women’s voices grew louder as I approached, but I could still not see them. Near the...

The Waterfall