Pura Vida

Pura Vida (Pure Life) is an attitude that Ticos (Costa Ricans) seem to have imbeded in their national psyche – at least the ones I met last week. The opportunity to visit Costa Rica was an example of Pura Vida operating in my life. Rick Jones, a long time friend of mine, mentioned that he and his sister Sharrie were going there. I mentioned how jealous I was. He then said that his son was unable to go on the trip, and that I could take his son's place. WOW!  I quickly looked at last week's schedule, determined that nothing was set in stone, postponed all appointments to this week and packed my bag.

It was one of the most fun weeks of my life – whizzing through the forest canopy on 8 different zip lines and 2 straight-vertical rappels, whitewater rafting the Coto Brus River, walking tour of the Manuel Antonio National Park (chock full of wild life), body surfing Pacific Ocean waves, fresh/delicious fruit, yummy Costa Rican coffee, and hanging with Rick and the locals at the Tequila Flats Bar and Grill … I was meant to live like that – Pura Vida!

And when I got home … sleeping in my own bed, taking Hayleigh to TaeKwonDo, stealing hugs from Chase, having dinner with my family, seeing clients/friends, homemade popcorn – Pura Vida!

That was my big lesson – Pura Vida is another way of expressing gratitude for the joy of being alive, present to each moment – exhilerating in all the sensory delights – ocean water, pineapple, toucans, people laughing, swooshed out of a raft in the middle of a rapid, body odor, clean sheets - it's all Pura Vida!

I recommend it.

The top pic is the intrepid threesome, Sharrie, Rick and me … the middle pic is Rick on a zip line platform, far from the forest floor,
… the bottom one is me doing a straight-vertical rappel.
… clicking on the pics enlarges them.