The Quepos Bridge Club plays at 12 noon every Tuesday at Dos Locos Restaurant.
Slowing Down to Learn from Nature
by Katreena
Life at Escondida Beach here in Manuel Antonio is magical. It is an amazing rainforest; a tranquil jungle filled with the most incredible wildlife nature has to offer. There is always a majestic flow of monkeys, iguanas, birds, crabs, butterflies, sloths, turtles and many others. A wildlife that never fails to capture the attention of and fascinate visitors as well as locals. You might not always see the wildlife, but they always know you are there. After all, you are in their home; the rainforest. The slower you move, the more wildlife you see.
Nature presents the perfect opportunity for people to observe, learn and appreciate all aspects of life’s journey. All too often people are consumed with accomplishing their goals, projects, or getting to their final destination while only focusing on the end result. Here in Costa Rica the culture places more importance on “In the process of” as opposed to the final result, creating what feels like…a very slow challenging journey. And nothing emphasizes that philosophy more than nature and wildlife. If you really observe the wildlife, they seem to exist and survive slowly and effortlessly without the struggle many people have in their journey. Animals encourage and nurture their young to thrive and survive, and really, nobody tells them they can’t. With people, perhaps the struggle exists for many because they have been told they can’t, resulting in famous expression: “But I’m trying sooo hard”! Maybe it is time to slow down on trying so hard and just BE…in nature…and observe.
The monkeys don’t try to swing from tree to tree; they just swing. Birds and butterflies don’t try to fly; they just fly. And oh, the slowest of them all in not trying to do anything is the sloth. A local favorite are the sand artists; big sand crabs effortlessly carrying sand from their holes on the beach. A very slow process creates a beautiful design left in the sand, a mosaic or perhaps a crop circle; trying effortlessly to tell us something.
One of the most joyous observations of nature’s slow journey was the birth of 98 sea turtles here at Escondida Beach in Manuel Antonio. Last December, it was nothing short of a miracle for those fortunate enough to witness nature at it’s finest example. The sun was setting, reflecting a bright red color shimmering on the ocean and shoreline. Similar to the parting of the red sea, people stepped aside in amazement to allow those turtles to, effortlessly and slowly, begin their journey to the ocean.
But what was really remarkable was everyone’s observation and excitement. Statements from locals were heard, “Wow, I’ve lived here my whole life, I’ve never seen this!”. Another proclaimed, ”The turtles have not been here in 20 years!”. And after all the turtles made it to the ocean no one said a word, but we all realized we just slowed down, observed, and enriched our journey in life.
To all our visitors here from all over the world, Welcome/Bienvenido! Pura Vida
See you at the beach for another beautiful day here in paradise…
(Katreena is a Reiki Master with over 20 yrs. experience empowering people on their journey and lives here at the beach in Manuel Antonio. Reiki classes will be held the weekend of April 17th. Please call (506) 2777-6389 or katreenasol8@gmail.com
visitors since December 2009
