Sorry if I seem to have become enamored with the list post, but all the experts tell me they work. Usually I would think to write about the 5 things, or 10, or 20 that you should bring with you to Costa Rica (yea, a packing list, so to speak). But this morning I thought about it from another angle. What are 5 things you should go home with? And I am not speaking of souvenirs. No, I am referring to 5 treasures to glean from your Costa Rica vacation. Genuine treasures of inspiration that your vacation possibly could impart.
Treasure #1 – Respect for another culture
I believe that any time you have the opportunity to experience another culture you should try to learn something about it. That is one of the great privileges of foreign travel. If you are open to that, to learning, then a magical thing will happen. The people of that place will open to you. They will be more welcome. And that will enhance your experience. Probably the most important thing to “learn” is to respect the differences of others. It is what makes the mosaic of life a masterpiece.
Treasure #2 – A deeper appreciation of nature
You cannot come to Costa Rica and not be awestruck by the intensity of nature that occupies this place. Some could care less, but I will venture to bet that they still notice it. You can’t help to. Sometimes it can get under your skin a bit, like the bugs in your hotel room that consider you an intruder into their space. But don’t complain. Learn to appreciate. Nature is, after all, the natural expression of life. Without it, the world would be an inhabitable place.
Treasure #3 – A less materialistic way of thinking (or, even, living)
There are some who don’t like for Costa Rica to be called a 3rd World Country. But technically it is. What does that mean exactly? Well, apart from a technical definition (which I will allow you the freedom to Google), it means that folks here have less than you do, a lot less. But look around and notice that they don’t seem to mind very much. They seem to be quite happy, don’t they? That realization can become a revelation for you…the fact that material doesn’t really impart happiness. It is then when you can embark on the quest of answering the question, what does?
Treasure #4 – Patience (or more of it)
Life takes on a slower pace here. We like to say that in Costa Rica there is more time than life. That is quite a different philosophy perhaps than the one to which you are routinely exposed. The one that says time is a scarce commodity so you had better milk it for all it’s worth. We don’t do that in Costa Rica. Patience just kinda comes natural when time is no longer that important. Maybe a little bit of that attitude might rub off on you.
Treasure #5 – Memories
Apart from the photos, the souvenirs, the hangover, the cuts, scrapes and bug bites, the empty billfold, and the many other things you might return home with, the only lasting thing is the memories. So make sure to create many of them and to savor all of them.
Pura Vida,
Post by CRG
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