Life
has treated me well, and I was blessed with a great internship in Parks and
Recreation working for a tour company in Costa Rica. Some say that my work here was nothing but
play time. What can I say? I love what I do. But that got me thinking, why aren’t more
people doing what they love to do? Why
don’t we follow our hearts and pursue our love of life with vigor and intensity? Is it the fear of failure that holds us
back? Is it the intimidation of the
unknown? Or is it solely laziness, not
wanting to sacrifice the mental, physical, emotional, or possible spiritual
pain needed to achieve our goals? One
thing that is for certain, we are the only ones holding ourselves back.
I could not help but regularly pondering on my study
abroad experience how life is so full of opportunity and how it can take us to
so many different wonderful places. Then
as I met other students and professionals here, sadly, I learned a surprising
and unexpected lesson: Many people are literally stuck in places they don’t
want to be in life and don’t know how to change their circumstances. Even more crazy to me are those heading full
boar in a direction that they do not want to go. How can we make the changes to fully take
advantage of the open doors life gives us?
In my
time in Costa Rica I had the opportunity to experience a unique phenomenon
called the ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle. Many
will say that it means that the native people are laid back and even lazy. For some, yes, it is true. For others I believe that it means they are
comfortable with who they are and have learned how to be what they love most
about life. Wherever we are individually,
we can come to understand where our choices have brought us thus far, and know
that we have no reason to fear the future, for it is our path to pave
It
may not be the case with all, but many or most have been blessed with freedoms
that allow us to make choices for ourselves every day. What am I going to do? Where am I going to go? Honestly, we never HAVE TO do anything in
life. Its true. As much as the pressures of family, peers,
finances, and education press on us, there is nothing in life that we have to
do. On the other side of the same coin,
we can do ANYTHING that we want to. We
are incredible beings with misunderstood and untapped potentials. Many times we undermine ourselves by simply
not believing that things are possible, or that we even have the capacity to
even approach certain dreams or goals.
In one thing we are all equals, we each get 24 hours a day to do
whatever we choose with it. What are you
going to do?
Where
are you going to go?
It is your choice.
Whatever
path we end up choosing, I believe anybody is going to make the best mark on
life doing what is closest to their heart and soul. What are your passions? What are you doing to lead the way to
accomplish your goals and reach your dreams?
Can you say to yourself that you are living the ‘Pura Vida’
lifestyle? I believe my study abroad
helped me better understand where I have been and where I want to go in my life. Where are you going with yours?
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