Yours truly has dropped back into the world again (the cyber world that is), back from traveling in the world, but hopefully of course only for a short time. This time I am reflecting on almost four months in the Costa Rica. So many people asked me if I was going to blog, post pictures, or email while I was there and unfortunately I knew this time I wasn’t going to have the time or the resources to make any of that possible. So I’ve decided to give you the short of it now, solo un poquito. As many of you know, I took a position as a Summer Program Leader in Costa Rica with Rustic Pathways this summer. Basically I was a guide and a counselor for students coming down to Costa Rica to travel on the Rustic Pathways programs. After many Tuesday bungee jumps, nutty energizers, cloud forest hikes, and 3:30 wake up calls for students heading to the airport, I now have some time to reflect on the “pura vida” lifestyle.
I cannot tell you how many times this summer I had a Tico (Costa Rican, we are gringos, they are ticos) tell me to “tranquila.” Calm down, relax, don’t worry. I love the word now, but in those moments I just wanted to turn around and shout, “You tranquilize yourself!” So much for being “tranquila.” That is one of the many/possibly THE most beautiful part of Costa Rica (and CR is a beautiful place): the relaxed, easygoing energy and mentality of the Ticos. When I got home yesterday, I went to Whole Foods (my place of zen here) and everyone seemed so stressed out; it was stressing me out. I just wanted to shrink up and transport myself back to where I had just come from.
This is one of those things and one of those times in my life when I want to fight like hell to keep, grasp, hold on forever to the new mentality I have and to the things I learned in Costa Rica. I am not going to lie though, like every other time I come back, I find it so hard to incorporate things from other cultures because of the heaviness of our own. Because of Costa Rica, I am going to stand here (or sit) and try not to take life so seriously, to enjoy each and every moment, to truly live in the moment, appreciate the beautiful people, friends, family, and places. Pura Vida. Pure Life. I going to do my best to not sweat the small stuff, do my best all the time and when my best isn’t enough, I am going to try (key word try) to accept that and move on. Boy, I can think of so many clichés for all of these things. That’s the difference in the U.S. we have saying, quotes, etc. that can try to dictate our lives, but the Costa Ricans just live this way. How was lunch? Pura Vida! How is it going? Todo Bien, Pura Vida! So next time you ask, I am going to slap on that smile, feel blessed to have what I have and tell you “Pura Vida!”
