Since leaving for Costa Rica, I have had many, many experiences.
But like my father, I seem to forget the bad ones. Not sure whether it's a genetic thing or an aging thing ...but it really doesn't matter. The end result is the same. I feel good...really good.
Without a doubt, the most consistent factor has has been how positive and helpful every personal contact has been.
This has been true of every single person with whom I have had a personal contact or interaction...from the taxi driver who took me to the airport in Toronto to the nice lady who wants to rent me an apartment. (I will write abut that tomorrow...and also my new job!).
It was true of people whom I asked for a little help...like when I asked a San Jose police officer for directions to a bus stop.
Similarly it was also true of people like Leo who, personal issues aside, provided lots of help.
Certainly all of this help has made for a more enjoyable experience. But it has done so much more.
It has increased my self-confidence, encouraging me to move further from my comfort zone to go new places and try new things.
Even when I encounter a problem as I will no doubt continue to do, I remain confident that when I ask for help...even in my very limited and halting Spanish...we can sort out the problem.
Coming from some one who has been as fiercely independent as I have been, that is a new experience...and it feels good.
As an added bonus, these helpful interactions have also reinforced how important interpersonal connections are to me.
Unfortunately as I became increasingly engrossed in writing and building my website, interpersonal interactions of all kinds became fewer and fewer.
That was not and is not good.
Which brings me to Lesson #1: I cannot, ever again, allow my focus to narrow to the point that it was before I left Toronto.
In other words, I cannot allow myself to become isolated from the very elements that are adding so much to my Costa Rican experience.
As much as I need my own space...I also need to interact with positive and helpful people.
Lesson learned.
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