One morning I read a tragic story about a young woman in her 50’s who made the Costa Rica expat choice to start her life anew here.
However, instead, she ended her life.
I felt compelled to write something in response to this. Oh for sure, I could write a cliché-filled diatribe about how “Costa Rica is not for everyone.”
That you can’t escape yourself, nor your problems, here.
No shit!
However, the truth is that life can be viewed as either being filled with problems, or with potential…anywhere you might find yourself.
The answer never lies “out there,” but rather “in here.”
Okay, so much for avoiding clichés, but it is true, isn’t it?
If you are looking for answers to problems in a place, a relationship, a belief system, political viewpoint, drug, or by pointing a loaded gun at your head, what you will find is simply more problems.
This fabulously fleshy computer that God installed between our ears is quite adept at finding and magnifying problems…if that is where you choose to direct its processing power.
Have I been able to escape my problems in Costa Rica (and believe me I have and have had many)? The very notion of that question makes me chuckle to myself.
It all really comes down to a decision that we’re all empowered to make. Costa Rica provides a beautiful backdrop in which to make that decision. And it’s a place that can enrich that decision in many ways.
What “decision” am I talking about?
The decision to embrace life no matter what it throws at you.
To see the silver lining in every dark cloud.
To pass the countless tests of your integrity.
To love even when you feel unloved.
To sacrifice yourself even when you feel completely spent.
To be at peace when you’re alone with yourself and no one else desires to share their precious time with you.
To remain fond of yourself despite all the stupid and fucked-up shit you’ve done.
And to gaze upon the beauty that surrounds you, here in Costa Rica, or wherever you might find yourself, and know that there is a purpose to it all.
You wouldn’t be here in the first place if it weren’t meant for you to L-I-V-E your life in every sense of what that word means.
Anyone who has suffered in life, really suffered, has experienced the electrically impulsed image of ending it all slicing through the synapses. There is nothing weird, or even particularly alarming, about that. It’s quite natural.
After all, it’s a choice we always have, just like all the other choices the gift of free will grants us.
But it’s never ever the best choice.
Life beats it, hands down, every time.
So, instead…make the choice to L-I-V-E…
…Live to Love
…Live to Laugh
…Live to Learn
…Live to Leave a Legacy
That’s the proper Costa Rica expat choice that I hope this book encourages you to make.
Pura Vida!
There are no accidents… It is amazing when one is in question how answers come.
Today my son in law called and asked if he could come over and talk to me. He and my daughter are struggling with their marriage; his question to me was, what do I need to do. My answer was simple, stop worrying about the dollar, the worldly belongings , stop surviving and start living. Be a team, grow as a family and LIVE!
My children have spoke of leaving the States and head to Costa Rica, as we spoke, I came upon your words, I read them to my son in law, and the tears flowed. I said it was time to starting living, yes the problems will still be there, but the choice of doing something different, amazing, loving, growing and being that family he desires, will come from a space of love. To step out of the head, and into the heart is the only thing left to save their marriage.
Tonight I will take my grandchildren, and sent loving energy to my children as they discuss their future. I am trusting with my heart they choose to take their sweet family and learn to LIVE in Costa Rica.
And I too will be there within the next five years, I have a small cafe to build, somewhere near the beach so I too can live, love, explore and take life at a beautiful pace.
Loving what is….
Final words to my son were, Be.. Do.. Have.. Trust!
Be all that you can be, Do what it takes.. take that leap of faith.
Have what your willing to work for, family, love, unity.
Trust in the process and the heart, they are a perfect team!
amazing! thanks so much for the comment…touched my heart and made my day…Pura Vida!!