3/12/25
Hello, friends! Welcome to episode number 186 – “Pura Vida.”
If you’ve been to Costa Rica, you’ll recognize this saying. I just returned from Costa Rica after visiting my friend, Sari, who moved there for two and a half months just for the adventure. I’d never been before, and it was amazing. We were in Uvita, a tiny, quiet village in southern Costa Rica. By the way, my friend Sari interviewed me while we were there for her podcast, Reinvent, if you’d like to take a listen. We were talking about, well all kinds of things including adult friendships, but mainly we talked about all the things that happen in your life when you have a major life-change that leads to reinventing yourself. I’ll put the link to that podcast episode in the show notes. And, Sari is an amazing reinvention coach for high achievers, so check her podcast out.
So, back to “Pura Vida.” It’s a perfect topic to cover this week after last week’s episode, Rest, My Beloved, where we talked about rest from busyness and hustle, from people-pleasing, and from striving. Where we learned we must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our life, as Dallas Willard advised. Where we are encouraged to slow down and make open space and unhurried time for the things and the people that really matter to us.
Which is exactly what “Pura Vida” persuades us to do. "Pura Vida" is a key part of Costa Rican culture and is a phrase used daily by Costa Ricans as a greeting, as well as a happy response to life. The literal English translation is “pure life”, but it means so much more than that to Costa Ricans and, subsequently, those that visit. It encapsulates how Costa Ricans cherish life’s simplest pleasures and find joy in the little things. “Pura Vida” lures you in and invites you savor its unhurried pace. As I was there, I noticed how happy the people were. Mind you, there was no air conditioning in any of the buildings. And it was hot. No air conditioning. And they were still happy. Now, granted, they were probably more acclimated to the heat, but they were truly happy and content. They enjoyed the simplest things in life.
“Pura Vida” is enjoying a meal with the family. “Pura Vida” is experiencing and appreciating nature. “Pura Vida” is a slower pace of living to connect with self and with God, who created such a breathtaking place. In other words, “Pura Vida” is the good life.
In episode number 4 – four, y’all, that was a long time ago – but in episode number 4 I talked about what it was to live the “good life.” I recommend you listening to that episode, or relistening. It’s good, if I do say so myself. I learned so many great lessons that were life transforming for me back then. God wants you and me to truly live the good life! God offers a satisfying life, full of joy, peace and contentment! It’s where true life, the good life is found.
Finding and making space for those things that truly matter to us is what brings the good life. In Costa Rica, they walk more than drive. They have a strong sense of community and togetherness. They spend a lot of time outdoors. And many people are religious and have a connection to God. It’s no wonder that a portion of Costa Rica is a dedicated Blue Zone – only one of five in the world – where people of advanced ages are strong and active, and live longer than average. Because “Pura Vida” – living in simplicity, in a quiet, calm pace of life – creates lower stress, lower blood pressure, lower chances of heart disease. Wow, we could use some of that, right? To learn to cherish life’s simplest pleasures and find joy in the little things. I think that’s the key to the good life.
Two months ago, in January, I learned of the internet’s most beloved bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, who live in Big Bear Valley. And since then, I’ve been patiently watching them incubate three precious eggs, hoping, praying that they are all viable and hatch. It’s what’s on the television almost every day. I don’t watch the news. At all. That just increases my blood pressure and worry. So instead, I watch the beauty of nature unfold. It’s calming. It’s centering. It makes me worship the Creator and expands my thankfulness. And to everyone’s delight, all three chicks have hatched. It’s a beautiful wonder to witness. A simple pleasure that brings so much joy. This was my first taste of “Pura Vida,” and I knew I wanted more of it in my life.
As I returned from Costa Rica a few weeks ago, I was determined to make some more changes in my life. Like I mentioned last week, I’ve created a lot of unhurried space to rock my 3-month-old granddaughter. At first, I would start thinking of all the things I should be doing instead, because, you know, things needed to be done. And then I’d look down at her and God would whisper in my spirit, “This is the better thing. Nothing else matters at the moment.” And honestly, that was true. This was seriously unhurrying my life. Really slowing things down and focusing on what really matters to me. Because I know not a lot of grandmothers get to have their granddaughters live with them the first several months of their life. This is a privilege like none other, and I’m not going to waste it. I’m not going to miss it. The added benefit is a slower heart rate, the presence of peace and absence of anxiety, and the sense that all is right with the world – even if the news would tell you otherwise. There’s just something about having a baby sleep in your arms. The simplicity of it all.
Now for some of you, this is not an option. It’s not what you get to do, and I get that. Maybe you don’t have grandchildren, or they don’t live close. I have a grandson that lives in Japan that I haven’t even met yet. So, I understand. But rocking a baby is not the only thing you can do to unhurry your life. In fact, I believe if we take the time to ask God to show us in what areas we can slow down, He most certainly will. And, honestly, you may already know what that might be and what areas of your life you could simplify.
Like, another thing I did when I got back from Costa Rica was dust off my bicycle that’s been shoved in a corner of my garage. I bought a helmet and a wire basket to attached to the back. And I’ve been riding my bike – about 3 and a half miles both ways – to the grocery store. It’s been so fun. It reminds me of being in Japan. We would ride the bikes, or walk, to the grocery store just about every day. Japan is one of the other five Blue Zones, by the way. This is just another way to slow down, simplify life. And to find joy in the little things.
The next thing on my agenda is to purge my house of excess. I want to live simply. I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those who saves boxes just in case I need to mail something to someone one day…and I need a box. Usually they’re the smaller boxes, but I have multiple stacked up on the shelf in the garage. Just in case. I also have a huge assortment of gift bags and tissue paper. Why? A few would do. So that’s a necessary purge. Basically, I’m going to go through every room and closet and simplify my life. Y’all can hold me accountable.
And the last thing I’m going to do is start saying “no” to a lot of things so I can say “yes” to others. My calendar doesn’t need to be full. I want some open space – white space. I’m going to make more room for connections with friends. I’m going to create more space to be quiet with the Lord. And maybe that looks like going to the nature preserve park near my house with a blanket and my Bible. There’s definitely something about getting away from my house that allows me that intentional time. I’m going to say “no” to a lot of things so I can say “yes” to others that really matter to me right now. You know that saying: For every “yes” there are a thousand “noes.” In sales, they use this to encourage you to keep on keeping on. Keeping on getting those “noes” so you can finally get to the “yes.” That may be true. But it’s also true that for every decision you make, saying “yes” to God, saying “yes” to your family or your spouse, saying “yes” to your personal healing and growth, saying “yes” to focus on ministry or relationships, for every “yes” you are saying “no” to a thousand other things. The opposite is also true: saying “yes” to joining another Bible study (albeit, good) may be saying “no” to spending quality time with friends or family. Saying “yes” to heading up a planning committee may be saying “no” to an exercise program. Or something like that. So, it’s necessary to decide for yourself what truly matters to you, what’s most important, and make your decisions based on that focus.
I’m getting closer and closer to simplifying my life, to creating more calm and peace in my world, to slowing down and making room for more white space – those places where I relax, reflect, recharge, reconnect with God, and also probably do nothing. Except for maybe rock my grandbaby.
Friend, what about you? Do you feel the call to simplify your life, too? Are you drawn to the idea of a life away from the hustle and bustle and into more calm and peace? To cherish life’s simplest pleasures and find joy in the little things? I can promise you this, once you experience this in the slightest bit, it will lure you in. I think because it’s what our souls crave. It’s where the Spirit of God is found…in the stillness. What can you do, friend, to take a step in this direction? Maybe start by creating some white space on your calendar – some dedicated time to do nothing. And meet your heavenly Father there. See how He sharpens your focus and settles your mind and satisfies you with the good life. Pura Vida.
If you want to go deeper into this topic, don’t forget to grab my Listener’s Guide with a few prompt questions that will help you live “Pura Vida.” The link is in the show notes.
Have a wonderful week, friends. See you next Wednesday for the next episode of Another Beautiful Life.
SHOW NOTES:
“Pura Vida” encapsulates how Costa Ricans cherish life’s simplest pleasures and find joy in the little things. “Pura Vida” – living in simplicity, in a quiet, calm pace of life – creates lower stress, lower blood pressure, lower chances of heart disease, and contributes to living longer. “Pura Vida” is a way of life that lures you in and invites you savor its unhurried pace. It is an intentional “less is more” mindset, creating white space to relax, reflect, and reconnect with God. In this episode, we discuss ways to live “Pura Vida.”
Resources Mentioned:
- Reinvent Podcast with host, Sari Kimbell: Episode 88
- Friends of Big Bear Valley Bald Eagles, Jackie & Shadow on Youtube
For more tools, questions for reflection, and resources to help you on your journey, download the Listener's Guide for this episode: https://www.triciazody.com/guide
Are you wondering how Life Coaching works? Would you like a free, 30-minute session? Click this link to set up a Consult Call: https://calendly.com/triciazodylifecoach/30min
Connect:Website: www.triciazody.com
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