Pura Vida: How Applying Costa Rican Wisdom Makes For An Amazing Life

photo taken by the author

I recently returned from an enriching vacation in Costa Rica with my family. Our experiences reminded me of the quote,

“Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.”

This sentiment resonated deeply as we immersed ourselves in the culture and natural beauty of Costa Rica.

The incredible experiences we shared reinforced some valuable lessons I already knew but often struggle to implement. I realized that if I face challenges in putting these ideas into practice, many others likely do too.

So I thought I’d share these observations from Costa Rica with you, with the goal of helping you figure out how to work and live well. That’s what it’s all about.

The Lessons

The importance of gratitude. We take so much for granted. Hot water. Roads that are drivable. Reliable infrastructure. Travel is a great way to remind yourself that not everyone has access to these basic things that we take for granted. Even if you are having a tough day, you have a lot to be grateful for.
How beautiful – and powerful – nature is. There is so much to see in the rainforests; the animals, the colours, the sheer beauty of it. There is also so much power in nature; the jungle can be unforgiving. The force of water streaming down a mountain, the intensity of a thunderstorm, and the crash of waves coming down on your head. Appreciate the power and beauty of the natural world that surrounds us.
The preciousness of life. We hiked up the Arenal volcano, which is still considered active, having last erupted in 2010. But in 1968, after having been thought to be inactive for hundreds of years, it erupted out its side, wiping out 3 villages and killing many. Never take tomorrow for granted; life can change in an instant, even though things seemed to be stable over a long period.
Happiness comes from doing what you love. We went on many excursions during our time in Costa Rica, and I couldn’t help but notice how cheerful people were, even if they had little. From the guide explaining how coffee and chocolate are harvested and processed, to the surf instructor, to the biologist taking us out in the dark in the rainforest, to the river guide handling our raft down the Class IV rapids; they all loved what they were doing, and it made them happy, even if they had little in terms of a salary. True success lies in spending time doing what you love, not in getting a raise and promotion.
Don’t overthink things. We took some surfing lessons and could only get up on our boards and ride the waves once we stopped thinking about the steps to get up and let our natural instincts take over. Your body learns what to do if you’ll just get out of the way and let it do its thing.
Respect for each other > rules. Driving in Costa Rica is quite chaotic; the rules of the road seem to be optional. But despite the chaos, people are respectful of each other on the road. People seem to apply judgement and common sense rather than just blindly following rules. It didn’t seem that the rules were enforced, anyway. The spirit and intent behind the rules matter more than rigid adherence.
You’re safer than you think. When I look back at the pictures of us doing the whitewater rafting, it looks terrifying. It’s amazing to think that you can safely navigate water that rough. Of course, the difference was that we had an experienced river guide helping keeping us safe. Don’t be scared to try something you’ve never done before, but make sure you’ve got someone around you that knows what they’re doing. None of us felt unsafe at any point during the excursion, and it turned out to be a highlight of the trip.
You need to be patient. Things will take longer than you expect. We would look at the distance to where we were trying to go, and attempt to figure out how long it would take us to get there. As the saying goes, “man plans and God laughs”. Maybe we only had 8 KM to travel, but the road would be full of potholes so deep that the bottom of the rental SUV would scrape. Or there would be a literal river running across the road. Sometimes there would be a crew out on the “highway”, cleaning up a landslide that washed over the road because of the torrential rains. No one on the road would get too impatient, understanding that getting upset about things wouldn’t make anything better. Patience truly is a virtue.
The need to be prepared. It was the rainy season while we were visiting, and that meant that even if the day looked clear and beautiful, and the weather forecast wasn’t predicting rain until the evening, you’d better not venture out too far at all without having appropriate gear. Because the rain would appear from nowhere, and you’d be mighty uncomfortable if you weren’t properly equipped. Prepare yourself for what is likely to come.
Change happens slowly, and then all at once. We were laying on the beach and I noted that the tide was rising. I could see the water creeping ever closer to us, eating up the sand that was between us and the ocean. It wasn’t happening quickly, just a slow, steady rise. Until suddenly, a wave came in and took out my wife’s towel, clothes, and my Kindle. We recovered everything, but the Kindle really wasn’t as happy with the saltwater as I was. It may seem like you have time or feel you’re not making progress until suddenly the change is there in your face.
Slow down and pay more attention. We went for a guided hike through the rainforest at night, and you had to move slowly to observe the wildlife. If you moved too quickly, you missed all the good stuff. By going slowly and paying attention, you found the most interesting things. Don’t be in such a rush; you’ll miss out on the best stuff.
Having a knowledgeable guide is extremely valuable. Early in the trip, we went for a hike in the rainforest on our own, hoping to see some wildlife. We spotted some, but not as much as I’d expected. Later, we were on a guided hike that wasn’t too far from where we’d already hiked, and the guide pointed out all kinds of wildlife that we wouldn’t have seen without him being there. Having someone around that is knowledgeable is priceless.
“Pura Vida”. This is the unofficial “national slogan” of Costa Rica. It roughly translates to the “simple life” or “pure life”. It is used in many contexts; both a greeting and a goodbye, an answer to the question, “How are you?” and an expression shouted at joyous occasions. “Pura Vida” means enjoying life no matter what your circumstances; it’s a simple appreciation of life and the realization that life is what you make of it. This spirit results in the people from Costa Rica being a lot more relaxed, less stressed, and in better health overall. It’s a great approach to life, and one that I intend to embrace more of.

These 13 insights from our Costa Rican adventure can enhance your life. You don’t need to be in Costa Rica to apply its wisdom—learn from some of the happiest people on the planet. Find ways to apply these insights and I’m sure you’ll find your life improving.

Let me know which of these resonate with you, and how you applied the lesson.

Pura Vida!

Quotation that I have been pondering

This week’s quote is from Tim O’Reilly. I came across it in one of Tim Ferriss’s weekly newsletters and it resonated with me.

“Money is like gasoline during a road trip. You don’t want to run out of gas on your trip, but you’re not doing a tour of gas stations.”

Money is obviously important, but it isn’t something we should be chasing. The goal is to have enough, not to spend all your time in pursuit of it.

Journal Prompt

You’ve likely heard the idea that you become similar to the people you surround yourself with. We are adaptable social beings and fitting in is our nature. That means that deciding who you’ll spend time with is a critical decision, which leads to this week’s prompt.

“Who brings out the best in me? And how can I spend more time around them?”

Choose your people wisely!

Call to Adventure

One insight from this trip was how valuable it was to have someone with experience to guide a journey that I’ve not done before.

I’ve been down the path of being in a job I didn’t like, of burning out, and have transformed my relationship with work. I’ve helped many others do the same.

So if you’re feeling stuck in a job that is making you hate Monday mornings, don’t wait until you crash like I did. I can help put you on a path that’ll light you up again.

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