Pura Vida: Authenticity

Three years ago, travel to Costa Rica for a friend's wedding, introduced this wonderful phrase or way of living into my life: pura vida. Since then, The goal has always been to live pura vida. Through the years, I have explored it in many blog entries, trying to find that element of a "pure life" in my different experiences.

This year, as a decade ended, and another begins, I tossed around ideas for something new but I realized that through it all, my life’s theme continues to be “pura vida.” The past few years of joyful moments, of painful realizations, of heartbreak, of challenges, of love lived, searched for, found and lost, has led me to rediscover the meaning of "pura vida." It's summed up in a single word: authenticity.

To be authentic ... to be who I am, to live my life. And that entails a lot of work, a lot of honest effort to constantly discover and know myself through all the experiences life brings, and the people that go along with it, to somehow remain true to that which makes one unique while allowing ourselves to be that constant work in progress that we ultimately are until we breathe our last breath. It takes a lot of courage.

Courage, its definition I recently learned is “to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart.”(Brene Brown) I have always been a story teller; it's why I write. I believe that each one's life is a story being written page by page with a myriad of characters evolving, entering, exiting, and a variety of plots and subplots that add layers to an interesting story. The lead character is you, in your life. In my life, it’s me. The story is mine to tell … it's of the life I am creating by the self I am allowing to be shaped. But to tell this story ... in telling, allowing for vulnerability ... of who you are ...  even as we continue to discover who we really are ...  with your whole heart ... the heart that is constantly feeling the emotions that threaten to crack it, and piece it back together, that seem to press on it, or caress it, or beat it into a softer, more alive heart ...  yes, this takes courage.

To be authentic entails allowing for vulnerability. To be authentic entails the kind of courage that makes one get up every single morning, look at yourself in the mirror and say - "this is me, and I am enough in all of my strengths and weaknesses" and then simply live every single moment, as it comes, trusting all that it brings and the possibilities every tomorrow holds.

And so, I start over with this new blog. I am still constantly trying to live pura vida, constantly finding the courage to shed who I think should be, who others think I ought to be, to let shine who I am. For it is in that radical acceptance that I can become into who I meant to be and live the life for me that I can simply be, simply live ... truly be...truly live. 

My brother gave me a necklace for Christmas, with the word "vida". Unbeknownst to me, he continues to watch me as I live my life in that constant effort for "pura vida." He sees somehow the underlying ties among all my endeavors that make each an effort toward a pure life.  And so today, I wear it every single day - a reminder, that pura vida means this to LIVE. And that to live means authenticity.

A pure life is an authentic life.

Pura Vida - A Definition

"Pura Vida" is more than a phrase I picked up from my trip to tropical paradise, otherwise known as, Costa Rica. It's a mentality. It's a mindset. It's a lifestyle. It's when everything, everything, everything is in harmony. It's when life is a stroll. It's when even amidst the numerous activities and projects and effort to get things done, to take the right steps, to accomplish what you thought you've always wanted, you're not whizzing about in a dizzy losing sight of why you were running and spinning in the first place!

Pura vida is life at a pace that makes you enjoy every moment, every beauty that surrounds you, that you have, that is yet to come...the moment it comes...not before, not after. It's when we, as humans, take our place in the grand scheme of Life; we are part of nature. Our lives is part of something bigger and greater. We - our past, present and future - are in the hands of One who knows all and Loves. We cooperate. We are the most important things we have, and the relationships we build, the most cherished. And in recognizing this - lightness, peace, serenity, joy settles in...tranquilo...tranquilo.

Pura vida is seeing everything and everyone in your life new; it's filtering everything you return to from vacation, and everything that comes to you with - Is this what truly matters in life? Pura vida is not limited to the beautiful blue beaches, the lush green trees, the colorful flowers and sea life...pura vida is life right here...right now. It's my life now. And so with this new blog, I'll continue to explore ... pura vida.