Pura Vida
In March we spent 10 beautiful days in Costa Rica. During that time, in a new environment with no deadlines or pressure to do anything, I became a different person: relaxed, care-free, and spontaneous. The shift was so dramatic from the anxiety that I had been carrying the last few months that Andrew and I started to jokingly refer to me as Costa Rica Kristen.
In the past when I would take time off, it would be very difficult to shift into vacation mode and leave Corporate Kristen behind. Like the rest of America, it would typically take me four days to feel relaxed "without nagging worries over work and responsibilities back home." So what was it about this trip?
Perhaps it the way we planned the trip, with our first leg being a small local spot with no obligations to do anything but just be on vacation. According to the Harvard Business Review, "poorly planned and stressful vacations eliminate the positive benefit of time away…[whereas] a positive, well-managed vacation can make you happier and less stressed." Did I unknowingly follow all the tips to create a relaxing vacation?
Or maybe it was just Costa Rica and the laid back attitude the country portrays. They have a saying there: pura vida. It means pure life, or simple life. The locals say it to you when they meet you, when they leave, and anywhere in between. It is a constant reminder that the only thing we really need to do in life is live. You would think we didn't need this reminder while on vacation, but we do. Vacation has become a challenge to see the best sights and get the best pictures. Or even with a staycation your week ends up filling with chores and an endless list of things you want to get done. Essentially you are still being productive, just in a different way than your day-to-day life.
This is a problem.
Vacating is why we vacation. To get away. To do nothing. To spend 30 minutes just watching the sun set because you can.
The saying Pura Vida actually came from a Mexican movie with the same name. The main character repeats the phrase throughout the movie as he encounters many less-than-fortunate circumstances. Despite the challenges, he manages to keep perspective. By 1970, the phrase was used nationwide and now it is a part of the culture. It is amazing how an entire country related so deeply to this idea that we can encounter challenges and life can be difficult, but we can still maintain perspective.
I am Corporate Kristen. I love working and I love working hard. When I am given a challenge, I come alive. I love setting goals, achieving them, and inspiring other people on my team to do the same. I don't want to quit my job and permanently become Costa Rica Kristen, but what Pura Vida has taught me is that maybe there can be room for both: Pura Vida "it's emotion, it’s an attitude, it’s happiness, and it’s a way of life."
