‘Está bien,’ which translates to ‘it’s good’ in English, has become my favorite phrase during the past two weeks I’ve spent in Costa Rica. I first heard it from one of my roommates, who is quite proficient in Spanish, when we had to relocate a bat from our room. Since then, I’ve used it countless times in various situations, such as finding mold in my bag, encountering cockroaches in our room, or dealing with bugs biting us. I plan to continue using this phrase when I return home. Although it began as a joke to ease stressful or uncomfortable moments, it has taught me that most situations aren’t as serious as we make them out to be. Many of my stressful experiences are due to my overreactions.
During my time in Costa Rica, which has different norms compared to the US regarding sleeping and bathroom arrangements, I’ve learned to be more adaptable. In any situation, you choose your reaction.
The people in Gandoca exemplify the ‘está bien’ attitude and the ability to turn tough situations into something great, or ‘excelente.’ It’s important to note that what I consider a hard situation is based on my perspective and experiences; others may not see it the same way. Personally, I thought it would be challenging to walk for hours to school every morning, as some people in Gandoca did growing up, live in a place with few stores and entertainment options, and work mainly on banana or cacao plantations. I was inspired by Brallio, who told us about the hard work he does on his cacao plantation for his family, and by a young boy named Jeremi, who never complained about his limited training options but trained as hard as he could with the resources he had to become the best runner possible.
Every day, you have the choice to either enjoy and embrace what life brings you or to complain, lament, and dream of being somewhere else.
Finally, I learned that treating everything as ‘está bien’ allows you to break down the barriers that prevent you from fully enjoying the present moment. By focusing on the positives and embracing where you are, you won’t look back with regret, feeling that you were physically present but mentally elsewhere. Every day, you have the choice to either enjoy and embrace what life brings you or to complain, lament, and dream of being somewhere else.