What a phrase. It’s something that I can pretty confidently say is completely misinterpreted almost every time in the eyes of someone outside of Costa Rica, but especially someone from the States like me. When we first arrived in Costa Rica two months ago, Tico Time was just a phrase that meant the locals here, Ticos and Ticas, were more laid back about their sense of punctuality (is that a word?). I thought if it as slow and relaxed and more of a calm pace of life. Sometimes it would bother me though. I LOVE to work. Moving. Creating. Adventuring. Working. Learning. Pushing. Training. Dreaming. That was my life before the race, and in a way, since the move to Costa Rica, I realized I have an incredibly hard time slowing down. So my view on Tico time was a negative outlook. I saw it as a waste of time. I saw it as lazy, and kind of cool in some ways not gonna lie, but lazy as a whole. Well the more time I spent here the more I learned I lived a very task oriented life. A life that was focused on the next “thing” that needed to be done. The next step in the walk of progress. That was my focus. Tasks were my focus. Now of course I had things and people that were much higher up on my priority list than work and tasks, but my mindset and lifestyle in general put my schedule and plans ahead of loving and enjoying ALL that the Lord has given me. I would make plans to hang out with my family or Moriah or my friends throughout the week while I sorted out my work schedule and time with the Lord and training and ALL of that. That’s ok, but where was my time to check in with my sisters every single day to know what was going on in their lives. Not just the big picture in their lives, and what tasks they are planning for the future, but actually finding out where exacly their heart is in all of that. Having the kind of conversations we have on walks once a month every single day. Now I’m here in Costa Rica where I barely get internet once a week, and I freaking MISS them, and I realize what a crazy priveledge one real conversation is. When you’re so focused on the next step and the tasks that you have to get done, you miss real life. Real genuine life. Life with real laughter and real tears. Why is it that the success oriented focus in the States has led us to completely wash out the meaning of “how are you”? I know that’s already pretty darn recognized, but is recognizing it going to do anything about it? Can we ACTUALLY stop and have a full conversation with someone as they pass by and say “hey how are you.” One of the things we learned in week one during our cultural orientation was that in Costa Rica (and a whole lot of other countries as well) when you see someone you know, you greet them and talk to them and spend a little bit of time conversing. Even if you literally passed by them in the store 10 minutes ago. If you go down another isle and see them again, you stop and talk to them again. Life should be relationship focused. It’s started to bother me more and more because I realized how task oriented my brain is and I want that to change. People aren’t lazy here. They value life. They value conversation. They value drinking a cup of coffee WITH their spouse IN their house before they head to work instead of rushing out the door with a to-go mug in hand. Am I trying to condemn those who have to rush out the door to go to work? Goodness no. I still think being on time is important and responsibility is very important, but the point of all of this is just to remind people that relationships are important. Real relationships. The first commandment is to love. It’s as simple as that. If our first commandment was to be on time, then this blog would be different ha, but it’s to love. Ya know?
I love you guys a lot. Thanks for listening to me process haha. Also here’s a day in the life video that I released recently!
