My son and I just arrived back in Costa Rica after we just spent the holidays in the States. After spending 2.5 months in the States (my longest visit since moving to Costa Rica in 2023) I’m convinced time travel or multidimensional travel might just be real.

The first day back in the U.S. felt like a 24-hour vacation. Everything was so… convenient. Need something? It’s minutes away, practically at your fingertips. America is built for efficiency, structured to make life easy and success attainable. Smooth paved roads, stores on every corner, and an abundance of choices—it’s a land where the word “wait” feels like a foreign concept.

But after a while, the convenience began to feel surreal. The strip malls and fast-food chains that now dominate spaces once filled with cow pastures give the States an almost futuristic vibe compared to Costa Rica. Here, a simple errand might involve a long drive, some creative problem-solving, or waiting weeks for something to arrive. If the U.S. feels like a well-oiled machine, Costa Rica feels more like a soulful hike: slower, less predictable, but undeniably enriching.

It’s astonishing how just a 3-4 hour flight separates two worlds that feel galaxies apart. The American mindset thrives on hustle and stress: work harder, earn more, consume more. In Costa Rica, the “Pura Vida” mentality reigns: work enough to live well and enjoy life. It’s a stark contrast. In one place, you’re taught to chase happiness through material wealth. In the other, you’re content with less because the jungle, the ocean, and the rhythm of nature remind you that life doesn’t need to be so complicated.

If North America and Central America had a baby, it would be the perfect blend of ease and simplicity—a harmonious middle ground. At this stage in my life, though, I’ve come to appreciate the challenges of living with less. Waiting for things or figuring out workarounds teaches patience and resilience. Costa Rica has transformed me. The version of me that once went from 0 to 60 in frustration over a flat tire now simply shrugs and adapts. Life here forces you to slow down and accept what is, which, ironically, feels like a relief.

The people of Costa Rica seem to have kindness woven into their DNA. Of course, there are exceptions, but I’ve met more genuinely happy people with so little than I ever encountered in the States. It’s hard to stay upset when you’re surrounded by lush green jungles and breathtaking ocean views. Even those with very little seem to carry a lightness in their souls. How can you not, when your daily backdrop is paradise and your meals come straight from the earth?

Driving home from the airport, my son is glued to the window, mesmerized by the endless jungle. His soul seems to come alive as the simplicity and beauty of Costa Rica wash over him. Every time we return, it feels like waking up—but waking up as slightly different people.

Leaving Costa Rica gives us perspective on what we left behind in the States: safety, ease, and abundance. But coming back reminds us why we chose this life. It’s not the easy path—it’s one that pushes us, teaches us, and challenges us to grow. I see that growth in my son, even if he doesn’t realize it yet. He’s becoming someone extraordinary, shaped by the unique duality of these worlds.

Each time we return, Costa Rica feels different—but I know it’s not the country that’s changed; it’s us. Living between such contrasting realities forces us to wake up and truly see life for what it is.

It almost feels like stepping between dimensions, two timelines so radically different they couldn’t possibly exist on the same Earth. But maybe that’s the magic of this experience—embracing both worlds, even if they feel like parallel universes. It’s a journey that keeps reshaping us, and for that, I am endlessly grateful.

Pura Vida is commonly said to each other when saying hello or goodbye. Like hey buddy, life is good! Let’s keep living the good life. It’s a theme here and one everyone could truly live by. Life is so much more than what is in front of us. There are so many magical things at play we don’t even realize. If only everyone had the Pura Vida mindset, would people possibly become happier? 

The Pura Vida mindset is a call to embrace life in its simplest, purest form. It’s about finding joy in the little things: the warmth of the sun on your skin, the laughter of loved ones, the taste of fresh fruit straight from the earth. It teaches us to slow down, to breathe deeply, and to live fully in the present moment, free from the relentless pursuit of “more.”

At its heart, Pura Vida is gratitude in action. It’s a reminder that happiness isn’t found in material abundance or perfection but in connection—with nature, with others, and with yourself. It’s choosing peace over stress, simplicity over chaos, and contentment over comparison.

This mindset invites us to let go of what we cannot control and trust that life will unfold as it should. It’s a philosophy of resilience, of adapting to challenges with grace and optimism. Pura Vida whispers, “It’s okay. Life is beautiful as it is.”

In a world that often demands we do more, achieve more, and be more, Pura Vida is the freedom to simply be. It’s not just a way of life—it’s a way of loving life.