Pura Vida

One of my most cherished souvenirs from Costa Rica has to be the new knowledge I gained of another country's culture. I feel that the ideas regarding the Costa Rican way of living really fit nicely with the theme of this blog too, because they really take the time to enjoy the little, yet important, things in life. And they do this whenever it feels naturally to them, not because it's part of a schedule.

For example, the motto in Costa Rica is, "Pura Vida," which means, "pure life." Every Tico (local resident) I encountered seemed to embrace this idea to the fullest. "Pura Vida" is EVERYWHERE in Costa Rica. On t-shirts, on wood carvings, on restaurant menus, inserted into verbal greetings, etc., but it is probably most evident in the lifestyle of the Ticos.

One example I witnessed of "pura vida" in all of its glory occurred on one of the last days of our trip. We were sipping smoothies at Joe's when I observed one of the surf instructor's at Witch Rock Surf Camp waxing his board. Suddenly, a mango fell from the nearby mango tree and first landed on the board, then rolled & fell onto the ground. Without hesitation, the surf instructor stopped waxing and bent to scoop up the rogue mango. I watched him grab a hose to first rinse it off, then walk in the direction of the beach, sit down on a swing that was tied to a tree, and then fully enjoy his afternoon snack. I mean, this is a human who was pausing to truly enjoy the 'fruits' of life! What a concept! I couldn't help but be curious as to what he was thinking while he was eating that mango on that swing near the beach. I wondered if he was reflecting upon how fortunate he is to live in a tropical paradise. I wondered if he was thanking the heavens for his livelihood as a surf instructor. I wondered if he was gauging the waves for surf-ability. I wondered if he was simply and solely focused on the mango. I wondered if he was thinking about his family and friends, or a girlfriend. But the thing is, I'm STILL wondering these things. How can such a natural human action seem so awe-inspiring to me? Because this is an act not usually observed among city natives, sadly & unfortunately. *sigh*

But, as someone who has never had trouble taking time to smell the roses (I'm often accused of being spacey, in fact, but I swear it is usually just me pausing to reflect upon the moment), I adapted to the "pura vida" concept quite easily and naturally. I was happiest not knowing what time it was or what we were going to do next. We didn't have to be anywhere at a certain time (which probably did wonders for my blood pressure because I'm constantly rushing in my real life). I actually liked not having my cell phone with me at all times and not having instant access to the Internet. Because the distractions were kept to a minimum, I could really be fully present in each moment. I wish everyday life in America catered to this idea more. I think Americans would be a lot happier if so. Well, I bet we'd be a whole lot more relaxed and less stressed, at the very least.

Also, my friends and I discussed more than once during our trip how the people of Costa Rica, though mostly poor, are some of the happiest in the world. There is no "keeping up with the Jones's" concept in their culture. I remember studying Latin America culture in high school and learning that they are deeply committed to their families, and family is what makes them happiest. I also noticed that they really care about the health of their environment. There were recycling bins everywhere and it was easy to tell the ticos took great pride in the landscape. The landscape is indeed their playground, but one they treat with great love and respect.

Another observation I made in relation to the "pura vida" lifestyle in Costa Rica is the pride and appreciation they have for their livelihood, whatever it may be. An example that comes to mind is the conversation we had with our zip line guide, Rudolfo. One of us asked how long he had been working at the Sky Track, and he proudly rattled off, "6 years, 3 months, 2 weeks, and 5 days." Well, I can't remember exactly how long it was, but he included that much detail. And I have a feeling he makes a great living doing that job. He gets to meet new people from all over the world every day, work outdoors, zip line until his heart is content AND make money all while doing so. No hunching over a 13 inch screen for 8 hours a day in a gray cubicle for him!

I'm not trying to say that Costa Rica is perfectly impeccable and the ultimate utopia, as I'm not naive to think the people of Costa Rica don't have their fair share of pain, suffering and social problems. But, it is a breathtakingly beautiful country where the people and their "pura vida" culture simply enhance that beauty.