If you ever get chance to go to the paradise that is Costa Rica, firstly, don’t pass it up and secondly, there’s one phrase you’ll hear a lot – pura vida!. The literal translation is “pure life” or simple life – but it has a deeper meaning that transcends words. It’s a greeting, a state of mind, a way of being, an ethos. It’s something I wholeheartedly subscribe to.
I’ve just returned from spending some time in Costa Rica it’s something that I still feel within me – it isn’t something that gets left behind at customs. It’s something that we could all do with a little of in our lives no matter where in the world you are.
So what does pura vida mean for me? It’s an appreciation of life, in all its forms. It’s a respect for every being, human or otherwise. It’s being chilled and relaxed – trusting that the universe will provide what is meant for you, that what will be will be. It’s about taking pleasure in the beauty that surrounds you – in the obvious and more obscure places. It’s deep gratitude for mother nature, Gaia, Pachamama … or whatever other term you wish to use to greet her. It’s about being in the moment, in the here and now. It’s a partnership, a relationship, a dance, with the world around you. It’s about reciprocity – giving as well as receiving. It’s about counting our blessings on a daily basis and giving thanks for what we have.
It’s no surprise that it was when I was last in Costa Rica, back in 2019, that I took the decision to change my life and embark on the journey I now find myself on. The ethos of pura vida is what underpins Eco Monkey. It’s why I returned there so I could complete my certification as a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide – to enshrine those values of a pure and simple life in all that I do.
The Eco Monkey 