pura vida

On a very rare day off, the family (Morgan, Burcu, and Drew) and I were laying on the beach peacefully reading our books when a large group plopped several yards away from us. We immediately knew they were Americans, yes there were blonde’s in the group, and yes they spoke English and were loud, but it was the manner in which they carried their primed selves. Each came individually carrying chairs, coolers, speakers, abundances of towels, and all their worldly baggage and materialism. This is one thing we do not miss about the States and admire about the Costa Ricans, the contentment in simplicity.

The people here don’t worry about what they have or don’t because, as I too have learned when I tried to cross the river with arms full of stuff, the more junk you have only further complicates life. The Ticos take one day at a time, rather one hour at a time. No worries for the future, because the future doesn’t exist yet. So why waste energy fretting on a non-existent idea. No worries, Pura Vida. As I have been told, work with what you’re given as opposed to fighting it. It’s about the reaction. Watching surfers, they move with the wave and literally roll with the punches, as unexpected as it can be. When you don’t worry about what’s to come, one is able to appreciate the small things occurring in the present. You never know what you may pass up when appreciation lies too far ahead of you. Life is what happens, when you’re waiting for it to begin. Live life now, not worrying about what to bring along.