The Complexity of Simplicity

What measure of discomfort and uncertainty would you endure for extreme beauty?

In Costa Rica and in Nosara, they market the life of Pura Vida, the “Pure Life.” “Pure” in the Costa Rican sense is authentic, relaxed and connected. Sometimes pure is equated with simple. Simplicity is relative and ironic. North America is filled with conveniences and accommodations yet it just makes everybody more hurried. Somehow they have less time even with everything moving more smoothly. Efficiency, which should simplify daily life, just comes to mean fast paced. This life in Nosara is pure but I’m not sure this life is more simple, just simple in different ways. The jungle is intense and complex and even overstimulating. The logistics of being here as guests are even more complex.

I would say the difference has more to do with choice than simplicity. In North America, you have a choice to participate in all of the opportunities or choose your path and make your day. The problem is that the vast selection of options retards responsible decision making. We think if there are choices we must experience as many as possible. The reality is that we can choose the life we want to live. In this regard, I like Europe because there are choices but we are not bombarded with them. They just need to work on the weather ;)

In Nosara, so many things are not available so it forces you to live this “Pura Vida.” We are not overwhelmed by too many choices. Things get done when they get done and thing happen when they happen. Things either fall into place or they don’t.

One thing Nosara has that is not a matter of choice is a great variety of accessible natural beauty. We were going to the beach as a family but Sean and Maya surfed while the boys felt lost in the vastness of the open ocean and huge waves.  Today I walked the boys up the coast and we found a forgeable river flowing into the ocean.

 

The surrounding rocks made tide pools that were just perfectly toddler size. Leo and Oliver finally found themselves. Oliver plopped his butt in every precious pool while Leo climbed the rocks.  The intimidating waves were stopped by the boys’ new fortress and they were alive with curiosity. They needed a boundary defining their space. Sean and Maya joined us later and Sean said, “this really is paradise, isn’t it?!” With all of the struggles and adaptations, it really is all worth it.