The best smiles in the world!

When I stepped off the plane in Costa Rica a few days ago I was reminded of the smiles here. Costa Ricans (or Ticos as they call themselves) have the best smiles. They are big and bold and welcoming. Everyone smiles at you here—the person working on the gardens, the person you pass on the sidewalk, the customs agent, the fishmonger, everyone. And the smiles are genuine. They also always have time for a chat. They are endlessly polite—even when they are saying no.

People seem truly happy here. They don’t think of things the way we do. They don’t rush and have a casual attitude to time. They want to please and be helpful. They don’t focus on failure just on what they are going to next. In fact failure seems to be a foreign concept—they tried something and it didn’t work and now they are doing something else. They accept and are tolerant of bureaucracy—most processes are complicated here, but they just accept it (because processes are almost impossible to change here) and get on with it

They love their kids, the beach, animals, friends, food, family and fiesta.

They are grateful, connected and have meaning in their lives—the 3 underpinnings of happiness. 

It takes me a while to slide into the Tico mindset, but when I do I find it’s such a relief. I smile more here, greet everyone, slow down, let go of expectations and generally relax.  I am getting there 10 days into my special time here.