Costa Rica's Motto

Frank’s Essay  -- Pura Vida

While it was snowing with subzero temperatures in the great Inland Empire, I was relaxing on the beach in Santa Teressa, Costa Rica. Other than the obvious, warm sun, and pretty girls in bikinis; I was impressed with their national motto, “Pura Vida”. My trusty electronic translator says it means “pure life”, but after talking to the locals for a couple weeks, I discovered it is much more than that. It is a standard of conduct, a way of living in harmony with nature and with each other.

You will see the phrase printed on bill boards, on the doors of taxis, and on the side of domestic airlines. Pura Vida is used both as a greeting and a farewell much the same as we would use “Have a nice day.” One young gentleman said it was a recognition of the environment, “We are all together with the animals.” I saw a no smoking sign in a restaurant that went on to explain the obligation to have a smoke free atmosphere and ended with “Pura Vita”. A river rafting guide told me that all the guides get together frequently to collect the hard-to-reach trash along the banks. Another example of Pura Vida. Yet it is more than an environmental slogan.

Pura Vida is the ideal way of living, sort of a utopian standard of conduct. Costa Rica is populated with human beings with all the failings of humans everywhere. They admit to having crime and drug usage just like societies worldwide. But they view criminals and drug users with distain; as those who have deviated from Pura Vida.

Pura Vida is a national concept of harmony with nature and with each other. It demands that each new day is met with a smile, and each new acquaintance is welcomed. Hunting would upset the harmony with nature, therefor, hunting is not allowed anywhere in the country. A standing army would reflect the antithesis of friendship with your neighbors; hence, they have had no military force since 1948.

Could we adopt Pura Vida in America? Probably not. Hunting is ingrained in our national culture, and our military maintains the world order. But we could adopt a nationalistic attitude. We wouldn’t need tariffs if we took more pride in things made in America. And, with the right leadership, we could resurrect the concept of things done the American Way.

Frank Watson is a retired Air force colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over twenty years.