'Pura Vida'...living the pure life. Most people know this phrase if they have been fortunate enough to vacation to one of the many beautiful beach communities in Costa Rica. After visiting one of these magical places, you think that everyone in Costa Rica walks around saying 'pura vida' to each other all the time. I might be wrong with this statement, but you really only hear Costa Rican's (ticos) say this phrase when you're in touristy areas or when you're the only gringa walking around and you stick out like a sore thumb (so yes, I heard this phrase often!;)). But really, most of the ticos don't need to say 'pura vida', they DO 'pura vida'.
Copey, Costa Rica. The most gorgeous mountain community you could imagine.
As one of my last rotations in medical school, I had the opportunity to live in San Jose, Costa Rica, for one month and to experience what it is like to work in one of their private hospitals - Hospital CIMA. This experience changed me for the better. I won't focus on my clinical experience...but I will say that their healthcare was incredible: well-trained physicians and other medical professionals, great resources, and a vibe that is contagious. People there are SO friendly, accommodating, and fun to be around.
To begin bringing you along my journey, I’d first like to describe to you my living quarters and host family. The home I lived at is in the Paseo Colon neighborhood, a very busy downtown area with lots of restaurants, businesses, and traffic! I lived with an incredible family who solely spoke Spanish so I had lots of opportunities to practice my Spanish-speaking skills. Lastly, the home: it was beautifully decorated and had many bedrooms and an open garden in the back, where we would sit and chat, study, or do evening yoga. And it wouldn’t be fair not to mention their adorable little kitten, Georgia, who was my savior cockroach hunter! I am not a cat person, but this little lady may have changed me. Sooo cute and snuggly. I miss her!
Before leaving for Costa Rica, I knew I would absolutely love it. I mean, who wouldn't be stoked to head to a beautiful climate where you get to learn medicine, practice your Spanish, make new friends, and travel to new places on the weekends?! While I was there, I felt as though I was really submerged into the culture and I had so much fun living the ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle. I feel very fortunate to have had this experience as a medical student. The Ticos focus on the beauty and the goodness of life. They have a demeanor about them that is better experienced than explained and I am happy that I have been able to incorporate this into my life back home.
Me - so excited to head into a c-section at Hospital CIMA!
Since my return, I have been more focused on creating simplicity in my life. I worry less about what I need to add to my life to keep up with society but rather what I can remove from my life to make it less chaotic. Instead of focusing on new products and styles (which I really appreciate and love, don't get me wrong) - I have been focusing on taking better care of my body and skin. Instead of seeing a fridge full of fruits and vegetables as "a lot of work" and ordering takeout instead of cooking- I get excited about the creativity I get to use as I create a dish full of these fresh ingredients. Plus, the way that my body feels after eating a meal solely made out of foods that would decompose if I don't eat them quickly - is a real plus.
I worry less about covering up my skin with heavy makeup and more about how I can use less of it and feel happy in my well taken care of skin. I happen to have a complexion that prefers tropical climates so I have been trying to find ways to love my skin as it lives in this dry, cold Minnesotan climate. How can I go from using lots of expensive products to fewer, cheaper products? I have stopped wasting my money on expensive products that don't work and have focused on drinking lots of water, using simple soaps, and feeding my body with healthy treats. This simplicity continues with my wardrobe through minimization of unnecessary clothes and impulse purchases. I wear the same dozen things all the time anyway!
Lastly, physical fitness. When I am in warm, tropical climates - my body feels at its best. I'm active, I have access to an abundance of fresh veggies and fruits, and my skin feels beautiful and clear. When I am home I go back to the craziness of balancing med school, my relationship, my fun time, and my me time. How could I feel as good in this environment as I did when I was relaxed, living in Costa Rica?! Well, I incorporate fitness into my routine just as I have incorporated simplicity elsewhere. I LOVE being active and working out. But I definitely struggle with finding the ambition to do so, especially when I have a monotonous workout routine that never changes. If I could, I would get up and do a HIIT workout on the beach every morning, but obviously my life isn't conducive to that.
That's when I started seeking outside sources for my workouts. I found the "Sweat" app which was created by several women who have a passion for different types of fitness. I have tried many of the different workout tracks and they are all great! The one that I am currently using is the PWR program by Kelsey Wells. Her workouts are a combination of resistance, recovery, and cardio. They incorporate a lot of weight training which I would have otherwise been intimated to do, but she gives great examples of how to do each exercise and this makes me feel much more confident navigating the gym! I used to be intimated by all of the machines and weights so I would just hop on a treadmill and run for a while until I got bored. This new program makes me excited to go to the gym because I feel strong, I'm excited to try new moves, and the app allows me to track my progress and see what I have accomplished. It is perfect for a busy lifestyle and I can fit the workouts in at my apartment building's gym without having to spend time traveling to the gym or spending lots of dollars (loan money in my case!) on a gym membership. It is $20/month for unlimited access! I have no ties to this app whatsoever but when I find a good thing, I like to share it!
I have touched on lots of ways that I have incorporated simplicity and goodness into my life at home. I have a passion for all of these topics and will definitely post about each one of them individually in the future! The most important thing I want to convey in this post is to simplify your life! Focus on the good and remember that self-improvement doesn't mean you need to ADD something to your life; your life can improve so much by reducing and simplifying your day-to-day routine!
Thanks for the chance to share. xoxo - katie
Comments