🦋 🦎 🌺 What I learnt from spending a mini-sabbatical in Costa Rica? 🐳 🦂 🌴 Last Saturday I returned from a one month work/ holiday break in what is dubbed a regenerative example in the world and the Switzerland of Central America: Costa Rica. I am hugely inspired by my stay in this magnificent country and will write more about it in the next few weeks, but let me start with three basic learnings.
1. Pura Vida
Pura Vida is a way of seeing the world: with simplicity, no worries, optimism, and positivity. It’s being happy with where you are at in the present moment, and feeling life as precious for exactly what it has served you. Throughout my journey I have only encountered friendly people who treated me with dignity and respect. Costa Rica doesn’t have an army and I have not come across crime, trash or poverty. In fact, the Nicoya peninsula is designated as a blue zone; a special area where you can find a lot of centennials as people live happier, healthier, and longer lives than most of the world!
2. Appreciation of nature: “what you do to the Earth, you do to yourself.”
Part of the Pura Vida philosophy entails cultivating a connection to the Earth and nature. Costa Ricans have a unique appreciation for nature, and it shows in the many ways they’re consistently involved with it: surfing in the morning, going to the beach to watch the sunset, taking walks through the forest, and so on. The country has enviable lush green areas and a vast amount of wildlife, as it just so happens to contain almost 6% of the world’s biodiversity.
3. Community is the key to protecting biodiversity
Local businesses are hyper-conscious of the effects that the environment has on the community, and work together to protect and preserve its balance. In 1997 PES was introduced by the government; PES gives money to landowners who preserve the environment through actions like the conservation of biodiversity, protecting sources of clean water or the storage of carbon. Next to PES, incentives such as the Blue flag ecology program to keep beaches clean and the country’s ecotourism approach are noteworthy.
While in Costa Rica I could not help myself but continuously taking pictures of the mesmerising flora & fauna I encountered with each step that I took. Check out this incredible tree with roots that have grown into a natural bridge!
#lovenature #costarica #biodiversity #minisabbatical #regeneration
Managing Director, Avon Data Systems Ltd.
1wGood luck, and well done for all your work to promote sustainable hospitality.