Beautiful reflection on the pure life. I had a friend who moved from finance in Chicago into one of these beautiful beach towns to work for an NGO. He stayed for years but he said that there’s more to life than leisure, amusement etc. He eventually came back home to Albany to take care of his mom and his siblings. He said that behind the photos, people have the same troubles in paradise as they do in big cities. I believe that taking care of responsibility (to self and others ) is living a pure life. Anyway really thoughtful piece
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Sadia! Yes, I think a *bigger* part of living in these places is that no place is frictionless, we all essentially choose the types of problems we want to face. I think the feeling of paradise fades once you settle into a routine, no matter where you are.
The insight that I picked up is that environment does matter. I used to think that you could be happy anywhere. I still think this is true, but the environment does create the conditions for living with more intention. At the same time, we CAN carry that intention into wherever we are.
I'm not sure that responsibility is living a pure life...this is where it becomes an individual answer. At the same time, I think there is a honor in the duty to care for others...heck, it's big part of my life, but I think a pure life is one that is authentic to you. So if take care of responsibility is a pure life for you, then it probably is.
Second this! And have seen it first hand, you might be able to escape your problems temporarily, but they will always catch back up to you. “Wherever you go, there you are.”
La pregunta del millón es cómo vivir pura vida en nuestros over-stimulated day-to-day l. I like to see it as trying to find balance with everything we have and do. But that feels far from the concept of pura vida 😫
Gracias Katysita! Creo que en algún momento se vienen decisiones sobre como diseñamos nuestras vidas, y en esos momentos uno tiene que estar dispuesto a hacer sacrificios. Uno puede buscar no estar sobre estimulado, pero la otra cara de la moneda es quizas tener un trabajo aburrido, que no despierte la mínima inspiración.
Creo que esto es gran parte del juego de la vida: Saber el que y cuando se sacrifican ciertas cosas en busqueda de la autenticidad. Cuando uno le pega al blanco, es cuando los sacrificios no se sienten cómo tal.
...i met a man in baltimore who upon being robbed at gun point instead asked questions and ended up with a crying hug and a gun in his hands instead...all to say that even on the precipice of death, seeking to know other life is an adequate defense...i also know a dog named vida rossa, who i call diva, that despite a pile of allergies and only five pounds of life, has lived in more countries than myself...pura vida, like all great phrases, is there to shake our hands for us, the commonality of existence more unique than our differences...great read man...
Ooof if that is not a ringing endorsement for being genuinely curious about others, I don't know what else could be.
Funnily enough, when I was younger, I had a fantasy that I would be this man in Baltimore...that I would get robbed at gunpoint, and that I would be able to show such control and compassion, that I would share a meal with the person who sought to rob me. I have a lot of work to get to that level of control.
Thanks for reading and for your unique CansaFis comment. Your voice is truly singular.
A great piece, and as someone who lives in one of these “escape to paradise” towns, one that obviously resonates. I love your suggestions for how to apply the pura vida lifestyle to other cities: “taking mid-day naps in our grassy parks, catching daily sunsets, and being more open to getting lost in conversation with the person next to me at the coffee shop” — simple things that really can make a world of difference in our day-to-day happiness. I think most people would be well served to take an extended break from the stress of a fast-paced society (and would be surprised how their priorities suddenly reshuffle!)
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, Emily! I really valued your perspective—you have a pretty cool way of talking about your path and coming across similar insights.
I'm 100% team break from fast-paced society. Maybe we should start a club!
"How often can you afford to spend an unplanned hour of deep conversation with two random strangers that you’ll probably never see again?" As much as possible, I'd like my life to feel like it's a revolving series of campfire chats with friends old and new.
I spent the first 4 months of my sabbatical fighting the urge to ask myself how long this "game" was going to last. And then, at first slowly but then SUDDENLY: it became clear. This is exactly what I'm meant to be doing right now. I couldn't be more convinced of it. It's the most alive I've ever felt.
Beautiful reflection on the pure life. I had a friend who moved from finance in Chicago into one of these beautiful beach towns to work for an NGO. He stayed for years but he said that there’s more to life than leisure, amusement etc. He eventually came back home to Albany to take care of his mom and his siblings. He said that behind the photos, people have the same troubles in paradise as they do in big cities. I believe that taking care of responsibility (to self and others ) is living a pure life. Anyway really thoughtful piece
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Sadia! Yes, I think a *bigger* part of living in these places is that no place is frictionless, we all essentially choose the types of problems we want to face. I think the feeling of paradise fades once you settle into a routine, no matter where you are.
The insight that I picked up is that environment does matter. I used to think that you could be happy anywhere. I still think this is true, but the environment does create the conditions for living with more intention. At the same time, we CAN carry that intention into wherever we are.
I'm not sure that responsibility is living a pure life...this is where it becomes an individual answer. At the same time, I think there is a honor in the duty to care for others...heck, it's big part of my life, but I think a pure life is one that is authentic to you. So if take care of responsibility is a pure life for you, then it probably is.
I appreciate you reading!
"same troubles in paradise". that would be a good title for an article
Yes, that's the other side of the coin. It's all tradeoffs and dualities at the end of the day my friend!
Second this! And have seen it first hand, you might be able to escape your problems temporarily, but they will always catch back up to you. “Wherever you go, there you are.”
La pregunta del millón es cómo vivir pura vida en nuestros over-stimulated day-to-day l. I like to see it as trying to find balance with everything we have and do. But that feels far from the concept of pura vida 😫
Sigue escribiendo Camilito, disfruto mucho leerte
Gracias Katysita! Creo que en algún momento se vienen decisiones sobre como diseñamos nuestras vidas, y en esos momentos uno tiene que estar dispuesto a hacer sacrificios. Uno puede buscar no estar sobre estimulado, pero la otra cara de la moneda es quizas tener un trabajo aburrido, que no despierte la mínima inspiración.
Creo que esto es gran parte del juego de la vida: Saber el que y cuando se sacrifican ciertas cosas en busqueda de la autenticidad. Cuando uno le pega al blanco, es cuando los sacrificios no se sienten cómo tal.
Muchas gracias por tu apoyo hoy y siempre!
...i met a man in baltimore who upon being robbed at gun point instead asked questions and ended up with a crying hug and a gun in his hands instead...all to say that even on the precipice of death, seeking to know other life is an adequate defense...i also know a dog named vida rossa, who i call diva, that despite a pile of allergies and only five pounds of life, has lived in more countries than myself...pura vida, like all great phrases, is there to shake our hands for us, the commonality of existence more unique than our differences...great read man...
Ooof if that is not a ringing endorsement for being genuinely curious about others, I don't know what else could be.
Funnily enough, when I was younger, I had a fantasy that I would be this man in Baltimore...that I would get robbed at gunpoint, and that I would be able to show such control and compassion, that I would share a meal with the person who sought to rob me. I have a lot of work to get to that level of control.
Thanks for reading and for your unique CansaFis comment. Your voice is truly singular.
A great piece, and as someone who lives in one of these “escape to paradise” towns, one that obviously resonates. I love your suggestions for how to apply the pura vida lifestyle to other cities: “taking mid-day naps in our grassy parks, catching daily sunsets, and being more open to getting lost in conversation with the person next to me at the coffee shop” — simple things that really can make a world of difference in our day-to-day happiness. I think most people would be well served to take an extended break from the stress of a fast-paced society (and would be surprised how their priorities suddenly reshuffle!)
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, Emily! I really valued your perspective—you have a pretty cool way of talking about your path and coming across similar insights.
I'm 100% team break from fast-paced society. Maybe we should start a club!
"How often can you afford to spend an unplanned hour of deep conversation with two random strangers that you’ll probably never see again?" As much as possible, I'd like my life to feel like it's a revolving series of campfire chats with friends old and new.
I spent the first 4 months of my sabbatical fighting the urge to ask myself how long this "game" was going to last. And then, at first slowly but then SUDDENLY: it became clear. This is exactly what I'm meant to be doing right now. I couldn't be more convinced of it. It's the most alive I've ever felt.