I grew up in Costa Rica, and lived there again recently for a year. Most of my family is still there. Costa Rica has so many wonderful things; I cannot possibly fit them all in this one entry. So I will tell you about one little custom I especially love: coffee time, or cafecito, as we call it there.

Cafecito takes place somewhere between 2 p.m and 6 p.m., every day without exception. Even the kids, most of whom don’t drink coffee, are included in the ritual. During this time it is customary to serve freshly baked bread and anything that might go with it: butter, local cheeses, guava jelly, and any other thing you have on hand. Because of this, most little towns and villages, like the one where we lived, have their own bakery, or panaderia. We could always find bread, pastries, coffee and milk. The most delicious, enormous baguettes were two for $1. You just can’t beat that!

Posted in about me, family, happiness 1 Comment »

Propaganda is the selective presentation of facts. The propagandist creates a simple story and repeats it often, with the deliberate intent of shaping beliefs and, consequently, behaviors. Hitler’s message was a clear example of how systematic propaganda can make otherwise rational individuals believe the most absurd “facts.”

I believe what often gets us in trouble is our own internal propaganda. Perhaps because of events that happened to us long ago, we created a simplistic, negative message about ourselves, and repeated it often. Most of us practice the opposite of daily affirmations, with phrases like:

I’m a loser. I’m not smart. I’m no good. I’m fat and lazy. I don’t deserve to be loved. I’ll never amount to anything.

Posted in bad habits, compulsions, happiness 3 Comments »

If by some coincidence of nature, or as a result of the dedicated effort of man, the elements come together to form something beautiful and awe-inspiring, I want to see it. There are those who say that Beauty is merely an illusion. Nothing exists in and of itself and, therefore, nothing lasts. So yearning for something (or being attached to it) simply because it is beautiful is foolish; it’s like becoming attached to a particularly lovely cloud–it won’t last.

Posted in beauty, present moment 4 Comments »