The Gift of the Contrast of Costa Rica

I had always wanted to go to Costa Rica.  And ever since living in Wisconsin, the idea of a winter escape seemed quite desirable.  Last week I was finally able to combine these two wants and it was everything I hoped it would be.

Although Costa Rica is one of the most affluent countries in Central and South America, it still has a second world country feel.  It wasn’t just the smaller houses, fewer paved roads, nor less developement.  A part of this “feel” was in the simpler and slower way of life.  Since I was in Costa Rica to lead a Relax and Renew Retreat, this slow and easy pace was wonderful and offered me several unexpected gifts during my stay.

Part of what I loved about my Costa Rican experience was the opportunity to step outside my “normal” life and into a completely different world.  Being in the rain forest jungle and waking up to the sounds of the birds and the howler monkeys brought a deep almost instinctual level of  joy and serenity to me…and made getting up early easier!  Being so close to the natural world in every day life made me feel more connected to the web of life in general.

Living literally within a slice of the jungle (we stayed at the eco-resort Samasati which is a bioreserve of some 200 acres),  also required a different level of awareness.  Walking, whether traveling the short trail from the main lodge to my bungalow nestled in the trees, following one of the paths on the grounds to the yoga studio, or even a visit to the waterfall, was a journey of heightened senses.  This awareness was partly due to the necessity of staying out of the path of the poison dart frogs, the abundance of  lizards, and the snakes under the big palm leaves (never saw one thankfully), but also because I was taking in all the new, beautiful scenery.  I kept my senses alert so I could spy the fresh ginger sprouting up from the ground, the pineapple bushes and banana trees along the paths, and the toucans and parrots hidden in the trees.  The new and exotic landscape captured my attention in a way that isn’t engaged at home where the view is known and taken for granted.

Likewise, the slower pace of life and the close contact with the natural world helped me be present with my surroundings and myself in a way that I don’t find here at home.  In our modern culture in the US, there are so many things competing for our attention – many of them not “real”.  I’m thinking of all the television, movies, video games, computers – fun diversions and helpful tools at times,  but not really things that connect me to life in what feels like a direct and real way.  At Samasati there was no Internet connect and most of the time cell phone service wasn’t available.  Ah, what a wonderful opportunity to be un-plugged for the week and just enjoy the people, the place and each present moment.

Seeing and feeling this contrast in how I was in Costa Rica versus here at home struck a chord.  Of course, I also know that I wasn’t truly living in Costa Rica but rather was simply vacationing which is different.  Most vacations in general allow for greater ease, reflection and a different pace.  And yet, I was able to relax and renew and connect in Costa Rica that I don’t on other vacations.  It’s true that aside from the two daily classes I was teaching, my biggest decisions were what delicious foods to choose off the buffets and whether to go for an adventure excursion, hang at the beach, or read a book in my hammock.  If I were living in Costa Rica instead of just playing there, likely I would have to add in the normal household, kid, and business chores.  And yet, because the culture is so different and relaxed, I still don’t think it would be the same as here.  Guess I’ll have to go back for a longer period and research my theory further!

For today, I try to hold some of that sense of being fully present in all aspects of life that I felt in Costa Rica – a bit more slowness for my life, less tasks and more quality time together, holding a heightened sense of awareness with the expectation that there is always something new to see and experience.  And I’m trying to remember that lovely warmth that blanketed my body, the sun filling the sky, and the thrill of the tropics while I head out to shovel the sidewalks today.

Re-Entry Transitions – Hitting the Real World After Vacation

We arrived home from Costa Rica retreat in the wee hours of the morning  Saturday and today I find myself suffering from mild ”re-entry transition condition”.  I have travelled long enough to know that there is always an adjustment period both in entering a new place and upon return.  To help support myself with proper self-care, I try to make sure  that I have at least one day, if not two, to ease back into reality.

Yesterday was my “do nothing but follow my body’s cues” day.  Although I had gone to bed at 3:30 am, I wasn’t able to sleep later than 10 am.  I got up, ate a light breakfast and simply puttered putting away the week’s worth of travel supplies.  After re-connecting with my family with stories of our weeks, the burn in my eyes and mild headache told me it was time for a nap.  Normally I don’t like to take long naps during the day as it makes it harder for me to go to sleep at night, but yesterday the two and a half hour nap was key to my recovery! 

The rest of the day was spent laying low and staying away from the pile of things I knew I needed to do for the week.  Resisting the urge to dive into my pile of “to-do” lists projects was naturally the biggest challenge but I’m happy to report aside from a quick email scan, I succeeded.

Day two of my transition is now geared towards catching up and getting essentials projects done so that I feel ready to go into the week without stress and rush.  Yes, that means that I’m not back on my computer and in the thick of a few work and household projects.  But just like my puttering in putting away the clothes and going through the mail helped ground me back to home yesterday, getting a jump on the week feels supportive in being ready to re-enter reality tomorrow.

Here’s a fun list of a few of my re-entry transitions:

• Transitioning from the tropical 80’s and sun of Costa Rica to the brrr cold of 21 degrees and snow.
• Sadly saying goodbye to the daily buffets of homemade vegetarian food at the resort to, gulp, having to cook my own food again – yes, this is the transition I like the least!
• Having to think about work and chores rather than simply deciding whether to take an adventure tour, lie on the beach, or read a book in the hammock.
• Hearing and speaking only English again.  It’s true that I still spoke a lot of English there because many in the retreat group didn’t speak Spanish; but I’m happy to say that I got several opportunities to improve my Spanish as well.
• Waking up to dark and the alarm rather than the singing of the birds and barks of the howler monkeys with sunlight streaming in at 5:30 am.
• Needing to actually style my hair again rather than allowing the humidity to give it a bouncy, cute doo effortlessly.
• Using oil on my skinfor the dryness rather than aloe vera to treat my sunburn – this one might be a good switch!
• Missing my fellow fabulous travellers and our wonderful daily conversations.

Hopefully my re-entry self care will make my transition back to the hustle and bustle of my “normal” life tomorrow smoother.

How do you transition back after being away of business or pleasure?