Someone asked me the other day; if I had one message to share, what would it be? My answer was this: We always have a choice.We love change when we choose it. A new haircut or a change of scenery is fresh and maybe even exciting. A new toy, car or home gives us domain over something new. Big or small, choosing to make a change is a way to feel like we are in control, moving forward, improving our situation and perhaps ourselves.
When we are forced to change however it’s quite the opposite. Instead of feeling empowered we feel pushed, harassed, and unsafe. When I bought my first home in Costa Rica, a little wooden cottage in the middle of Ojochal, I was elated. It was a symbol of freedom and a new life I had long wanted for myself. Soon after I moved in however I realized that this new life came with other things I was not in control of. Like roosters and dogs barking all night, the difficulty of finding parts for my car and confusing rules that took days and weeks to navigate instead of hours.
It seemed the more I tried to get things done the longer it took. Confusion became frustration and even anger. Slowly I adjusted. I learned to see long lines not as time lost but rather time to breathe and relax. I learned to ask as many questions as possible when information is not proffered. I learned to speak Spanish and discovered that everyone else has the same problems. Eventually I realized that by choosing to change my expectations of how my life works, I freed myself from feeling forced to do it. That I had a choice. And sure enough, everything changed.
By Perry Gladstone
CONTACT: Perry Gladstone: asesor profesional y cofundador de la Fundación SOMOS, SafeBeach, la Asociación de
Salvavidas y presidente de la Cámara de Turismo y Comercio de Costa Ballena (CACOBA). / Professional advisor and
co-founder of the SOMOS foundation, SafeBeach the Southern Lifeguard Association and serves as President of the
Costa Ballena Chamber of Tourism and Commerce (CACOBA). www.perrygladstone.com
