Study Nature, love Nature, stay close to Nature. It will never fail you.

– Frank Lloyd Wright

In this moment of chaos across the globe, it helps everybody to be able to stop and find some stillness. Those who find themselves in Costa Rica are fortunate in so many ways, and it would benefit us to be aware of what our location does for us.  The peace of staying home in Costa Rica is loaded with benefits, Namely, we have sunshine providing Vitamin D. We have clean water and air. Locally, we have access to home delivery services for groceries, including the local organic growers and producers of wonderful artisanal products so your diet or lifestyle does not have to suffer. Those who are surrounded by nature receive from it much more then they may realize.

Research in a growing scientific field called Ecotherapy has shown a strong connection between time spent in nature and reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. Studies have found that those who did a nature walk had lower activity in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that is active during rumination, defined as repetitive thoughts that focus on negative emotions. “When people are depressed or under high levels of stress, this part of the brain malfunctions, and people experience a continuous loop of negative thoughts,” says Dr. Jason Strauss, director of geriatric psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance. Digging a bit deeper, it appears that interacting with natural spaces offers other therapeutic benefits. For instance, calming nature sounds and even outdoor silence can lower blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which calms the body’s fight-or-flight response. In the Southern Zone, silence means the absence of man made sound, yet it is not silent because the jungle always makes noise. Be it insects, birds, animals, water (streams, waves, rain), leaves in the trees. We are surrounded by Nature’s music. The visual aspects of nature can also have a soothing effect, according to Dr. Strauss. “Having something pleasant to focus on like trees and greenery helps distract your mind from negative thinking, so your thoughts become less filled with worry.”

In all, the right level of Vitamin D in the body helps us in the prevention of diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Besides, it also ensures the smooth functioning of the immune system. Don’t believe me, go for a brisk walk in the early morning sun and see how you feel after!

Sources
Scientific Reports, Health Benefits from Nature Experience Depend on a Dose, Danielle F. Shananhan, June 2016

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And as certain as this uncertainty is we have no other option than to learn how to manage it and deal with it. But how do we do it? Some online research can provide you good and specialized materials on this subject. As a basic guide let’s review some basic points for this process.

First of all there are three points you need to interiorize:

1. You need to accept that change is happening and that you cannot stop it but rather need to be willing to deal with it;
2. You need to open your mind to be in an “always ready” mode, so you can adapt to change; and
3. You have to be willing to take action.

The whole process of managing uncertainty has to be understood as an strategic foresight exercise to figure out how to think about the future and its uncertainties. Here are some ideas about this process:

• Know your factual situation. You have to identify the factual points of your situation so that you know which are the factors on which your actions will need to take place.
• Identify as many possible scenarios as you can. While you cannot know what is going to happen you can think about the different situations that you may be facing regarding your personal situation, business or investment.
• Think possible solutions. Analyze your possible scenarios and think about the actions you would take to face them. Keep in mind that in some cases bailing out or taking actions to minimize loses may be part of the solutions to take.
• Eliminate obstacles. As a consequence of the three previous steps, define those actions that you can take to make your possible solutions more feasible. For instance, if you are in the process of selling a property, make sure you have at hand the corresponding zoning certificate, water availability letter, taxes compliance document and all of those items that will ease up your possible solutions.

Most of all, be always monitoring your situation and your environment so that you can constantly update your possible scenarios and solutions.

Written by Randall Sanchez

Randall Sanchez is an Attorney and Notary Public, founder and managing partner of the Sanchez and Associates Law Firm, based in the Southern Pacific Zone of Costa Rica. His practice is focused in real estate transactions and development and corporate law, to which he has been dedicated for 32 years.

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In spite of all this, we should try to embrace the true Pura Vida spirit of it all, because just like a pancake has two sides no matter how flat you make it, every situation, no matter how unexpected and weird, has its pros and cons. So for those of us lucky enough to be ‘stranded’ in Costa Rica during this time, here’s a few good and bad aspects we can all relate to.

DISADVANTAGES OF THE QUARANTINE 

• Weekend Whimsy: Remember the days when we could drive Saturday and Sunday, no matter what number our license plate ended with? Those were wild times, right? Remember to savour the right, when restrictions end.
• Beach Bans: Yellow police tape has never been in such high demand and oh so prevalent, as well as anticlimactic as we see beach fronts taped off from North to South end. Whoever invested in that stock option, good for you! 
• Minimal Intimacy: Surely we can all agree that life isn’t nearly as fulfilling without those tropically induced moist handshakes and sweaty faux cheek’n’kiss greetings for all your friends and friends-of-friends and that one guy you don’t really know or like. Just a wave will now suffice.

ADVANTAGES OF THE QUARANTINE

• Less Traffic: Don’t you fondly remember that super dangerous ten-way intersection that involved heavily used conflicting dual turn lanes and stop signs to cross the Costanera highway that had weekly lethal accidents? No. No one misses that.
• New Hobbies: You can finally learn how to roast those potentially poisonous cashews at home, and if you’re feeling really ambitious, you can attempt to make your own chicha (fermented booze) from the remaining fruit. And while you’re flouting your green thumb, you can finally appreciate, harvest and eat that pineapple growing in your yard, which, lo and behold, don’t come from trees (who knew?!).
• Extended Visas: For those not fortunate enough to have residency, 90-day visa trips are a common occurrence. However, due to border closures the Costa Rica government has graciously extended immigrant visa requirements. While we might reminisce about the highly discounted duty free liquor, it never sucks being allowed to be ‘stuck’ in paradise.  
• Different Norms: Smelling like guaro isn’t just for benders, holidays or Tuesday anymore; that cheap alcohol aroma is the new ‘eau de corona’ disinfectant and it’s not going anywhere soon. 

So with all this in mind, let’s drink up, live it up, wash up and don’t judge that guy sleeping a little too soundly in the ditch in the middle of the day – we all social distance in our own way.

“Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.”

– Elbert Hubbard

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Lots of things have changed over the past 4 months. I went from traveling and competing monthly to not moving at all and not being able to go to the beach. N​ow, we are able to surf at designated times. For me though it means more physical​ ​training out of the water to still be in shape for when they do open up the beaches fully. During my time at home I work out a lot more. I find new workouts and learn new tricks on the skateboard.

Right now we only get to surf during specific times, which for us surfers is a start to getting back in the water again. At one point beaches had closed completely, and that time had made me realize how much I love surfing and why it is so important to me. When I got back in the water, I valued it much more. I don’t think, at least right now, that the beaches are going to open any time soon. I hope I’m wrong but that looks the most accurate at these times. But – we still get to surf, and for me that is the most that I can ask for right now. And the best way to get back to surfing, is to get used to the waves again and go back everyday.

I have been so desperate to surf since everything started because the waves were big and fun but all the beaches got shut down when the waves got good. There, I learned to respect what was happening and not sneak out when there was a chance. So to be honest, even now that the beaches are open at designated times I have still been working out a lot because three hours of surfing isn’t enough to keep me in competition ready shape​.​ I am excited to see how the culture of the contest will change in Costa Rica and internationally from what it was before, and now, after everything that has happened this past year.

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“Be patient where you sit in the dark. The dawn is coming.”

– Rumi

As the world was impacted by the spread of COVID-19, Costa Rica responded efficiently. There was no panic, no hoarding. People remained calm and followed the government restrictions, even amid job losses and school closures.

In a country where many family run operations rely on International tourism for its bread and butter, there have no doubt been financial and personal struggles. The campaign, “Don’t cancel, just postpone” went viral, reminding visitors that Costa Rica is a place you will want to go once freed from travel restrictions.

The Costa Ballena area has experienced an atmosphere of coming together even when social distancing kept us physically apart. We evolved as a community. Organizers came together to create new online platforms for people to order their favorite local products. Local stores and restaurants offered take away and home delivery, re-creating their menus for families and adjusting pricing. Virtual home tours became the ultimate way to market a home for sale due to border closures. People with rental homes made them available to those who could not travel back to their home countries. Non-Profits in the community collaborated with local businesses to provide donations of food and goods to families in need.

The Osa has experienced minimal confirmed cases of the virus and businesses continue to have sanitary measures in place. As we see a gradual opening up, these next few months will be an opportune time for national tourism and staycations, with discounted rates and less crowds.

We have seen some cities brought to their knees, while also bringing families back into their homes and giving nature room to breathe. It caused people to pause, it opened our eyes, and allowed us to reflect on the things we truly hold dear. The ability to live in Costa Rica, is no doubt one of those things we are all grateful for.

Written by Zoe Wright

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