| Costa Rica is known for a special way of life and | | | | independent British research group, the New |
| attitude known as pura vida, which literally | | | | Economics Foundation, that ranks nations using |
| translated means pure life. This phrase is similar to | | | | the "Happy Planet Index" with the goal to create |
| aloha from Hawaii as it has various meanings and | | | | a new economy centered on people and the |
| people use it in greeting, parting, and in many | | | | environment. The index seeks to identify the |
| other situations. When someone says hello and | | | | countries with the most content people that also |
| asks how you are, the response is often pura | | | | are trying to improve their ecological footprint by |
| vida, or loosely translated I am well or life is good. | | | | managing their use of natural resources. In other |
| In a situation where something unfortunate | | | | words to be a high-well being and low-carbon |
| happens it is used as well. | | | | economy. The criteria used includes how people |
| A response to a flat tire might be pura vida | | | | rank themselves in life satisfaction, as well as |
| meant like oh well, no worries or that's ok, life is | | | | other factors including life expectancy and the |
| still good! Also when something fortunate happens | | | | ecological footprint of the country. The most |
| you will hear pura vida; as a response to a person | | | | recent report from the NEF lists Costa Rica as |
| being congratulated on a new job for example. | | | | "the greenest and happiest" country on the planet. |
| There are so many examples of this expression | | | | Another article by the San Francisco Examiner |
| used in daily life, another meaning being good living | | | | Travel News using data from UNESCO, the WHO, |
| or living well referring to quality of life. There are | | | | the Veenhoven Database of World Happiness, and |
| many other Costa Rican expressions that relay | | | | the United Nations Development Program, found |
| that the glass is definitely half-full. Por dicha is | | | | Costa Rica to be the 13th happiest place in the |
| very common here, literally translated as for, or | | | | world. This is impressive since the criteria for this |
| by bliss. The phrase is more easily understood | | | | ranking included good health care, higher GDP per |
| when translated as luckily or thankfully. How have | | | | capita, and access to education. Furthermore, |
| you been? Como le ha ido? Well, thankfully. Bien, | | | | Costa Rica was the only Latin American Country |
| por dicha. I appreciate the use of dicha (bliss) | | | | in the top 20. |
| instead of suerte (luck). We could all use a little | | | | Another really interesting point is life expectancy |
| more bliss in our lives, I imagine. If you don't hear | | | | in Costa Rica. The life expectancy for the total |
| por dicha at least 10 times a day, than either you | | | | population is 77.5 years of age. For a developing |
| are all by yourself with other foreigners, or you | | | | nation, this is impressive and is intertwined with |
| are not in Costa Rica! | | | | the reports and studies on happiness and |
| If I had to take into account all the many factors | | | | contentedness. Additionally, an ongoing study of |
| influencing Costa Rican life, and condense it and | | | | the world's "Blue Zones" headed by Dan Buettner |
| choose one saying that would to relay the unique | | | | and his colleagues, found the longest life |
| attitude and feel of Costa Ricans, it would | | | | expectancy pocket of the Americas to be right |
| definitely be pura vida. I have a feeling this | | | | here in Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. |
| attitude toward life is one of the key reasons | | | | Buettner leads teams of scientists to study |
| why Costa Rica has recently been named the | | | | pockets around the world where people live the |
| "world's happiest nation" by an independent British | | | | longest, healthiest lives. These are called the Blue |
| research group. We don't need a survey to tell us | | | | Zones. The Blue Zones of the world have factors |
| what the optimism and warmth of the locals, | | | | in common: positive attitudes of the people in the |
| happy tourists and contented expats already | | | | community, grateful and appreciative approach to |
| know, but it is interesting to hear and think about. | | | | life, focus on family, a sense of purpose, active |
| After all, there are so many possible destinations | | | | lifestyles with physical work, plant based diets |
| in the world to visit and only so much time to do | | | | with locally acquired food, etc. I can't help but |
| it, so might as well visit a happy place is how I | | | | think about pura vida when I hear this! Come |
| see it. | | | | experience the good life, the pure life, in Costa |
| CNN reported not long ago about a relatively new | | | | Rica- we're waiting for you! |