When is the last time you made a discovery that completely changed the way you viewed the world?

Whether it was yesterday, last month or two years ago, chances are it doesn’t happen very frequently these days. At least not as frequently as when we were children, exploring with complete awe, curiosity and open-mindedness, everything we came into contact with.

But as we age, we lose our desire for discovery, and more importantly, we lose the benefits of such exploration. We start to believe that we already have all of the information we need to shape our world views and form our opinions.

Unfortunately, without continued personal exploration, we often end up basing our world views on the biased thoughts and beliefs of others. As a a result, we find ourselves hating and fearing people who live on the other side of the planet simply because we are told to do so, even though we don’t really know anything at all about those people.

How can we justify all of this negativity without viewing the world through the eyes of others?

How can we support wars that take place for reasons that we truly do not understand? How can we ignore human rights abuses in order to have our store shelves stocked with cheaper goods?

We can’t. Yet we do.

Recently, I began thinking about what has led me to spend the past ten years constantly wandering around the globe. While it may appear that I’m simply addicted to travel, I realized that I am actually addicted to exploration and discovery, just as I was when I was a kid. Traveling to me has much less to do with the name of the country I am visiting than it does with the opportunity to interact with people I would ordinarily never come into contact with.

The goal of my explorations is to actively pursue, and be challenged by, a first-hand education through cultural immersion and ordinary human interactions. If my beliefs are not constantly tested and re-shaped, then I am at serious risk of allowing the hatred, the fear and the negativity to continue in this world unchecked. However, if I can fill my life with new discoveries about people and places that I admit I know nothing about, then I can play a role in promoting respect, equality, and the value of diversity.

It is what being a global citizen is all about.

When we discover for ourselves, we constantly experience eye-opening moments of wonder, such as,  “Wow! These people actually are not evil.” Or “Wow! This place is not at all what I thought.” And it is such discoveries that help to dissolve harmful misunderstandings, destroy false assumptions and in turn, ever so slowly, change the world for the better.

So, why have we lost our desire for exploration over the years?

Perhaps it has become too inconvenient or troublesome to spend time searching for first-hand knowledge. It is without a doubt much easier to take a few tidbits of information we hear on the news or read online, piece it all together and create an entire world view out of them.

But exploration really isn’t so inconvenient. And although the term is often associated with extensive world travel, modern exploration can take place within your own home, town or region.

Speak to people you would not ordinarily come into contact with, learn about a culture or country you know nothing about or become an email pen pal with someone in a far away land.

I firmly believe that being a global citizen is a frame of mind, not a passport full of stamps.

And whether you take the traveling or non-traveling approach, one thing is definitely guaranteed–exploration is exhilarating! It involves a child-like curiosity and genuine addiction to personally discovering what lies beyond the horizon. This is a far more rewarding method of understanding the world than simply assuming we already know what’s out there.

In fact, you’ll often find the difference in results between the two methods to be astonishingly different. And when given a choice between blind-belief, developed more by the need for belief than from true experience, or first-hand knowledge resulting from direct interactions, the choice to me seems downright obvious.

With that in mind, I hope we will all consider becoming explorers once again!

What about you?

Are you in touch with your child-like spirit of adventure? Do you still explore?

Note From Lisis: If you haven’t met Earl, consider visiting his blog, Wandering Earl, so you can do what I do: travel vicariously through him!

When I Grow Up, I Want to Be an Explorer! is a post from: Quest for Balance

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In July of this year, Costa Rica was named the Happiest Place in the World. It has often been considered a tropical paradise, described as “100% Natural, No Artificial Ingredients” for its commitment to eco-preservation. Costa Rica has universal healthcare, excellent education, and a relatively low cost of living… which begs the question:

Why doesn’t Lisis live in Costa Rica?

Hmmm… hard to say, really. After all, I am a citizen, with friends and family in the country. We even own land in the Southern Region, where we could live. It’s kind of a strange thing, because I would highly recommend Costa Rica to anyone thinking of moving there. It is an absolutely wonderful place, provided you can handle two things:

1. Bugs – I don’t know if it’s the climate, the volcanic soil, or the fact that it’s the happiest place on earth, but those bugs seem really happy to be there. They are HUGE! In all fairness, most of them are harmless and probably super interesting specimens, but… they are bugs… really big bugs. Let’s just say, I’m NOT a bug person. I would rather live in what promises to be a frozen tundra this winter just for the chance to be bug-free. Totally neurotic, I know. But have you seen the bugs in Costa Rica?

2. Inefficiency – Costa Rica is the Red Tape capital of the world. There is a bureaucratic process for everything… lines to stand in, forms to fill out and have stamped, archaic systems that were put in place long before the internet age and can’t be modernized because the process to have them changed is more trouble than just continuing to do things as they have always been done. For instance, having to pay a guy on a motorcycle for the cable bill, in cash. If you aren’t there when he comes by, he’ll come once or twice more, then they’ll cut off your cable… and you have to go stand in line to get it back.

The little things drove me nuts when I lived there. Most Costa Ricans, tourists and expatriates living there seem to find this sort of system (for lack of a better word) charming, or quaint, and a small price to pay for living in Paradise. It requires patience and a general disposition of not sweating the small stuff… no matter how much of your precious time on this Earth is wasted standing in bureaucratic lines. I don’t think I have that disposition.

I like to spend as little time as possible on “the small stuff”, like administrative crap, so I can spend as much time as possible doing the things I love. Every time I had to stand in a 3-hour line (they even provide chairs in a row so you can sit while you wait, moving over one seat at a time!) I could feel the sands of my hourglass slipping away… minutes, hours, days of my life I would never get back.

So, in my case, I found it very difficult to overcome those two issues, even for all the beauty of the country and the joy of its people. I still LOVE to vacation there, and I firmly believe everyone should visit at least once (per year!). But I must sadly report that I cannot live in the Happiest Place in the World.

TAKE HOME LESSON: Just because a place, a job, a relationship, or a situation SEEMS “perfect” for you, and everyone you know thinks you should stay in it, does NOT mean you should listen to them. Only YOU can decide what YOUR life should look like. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else!

Recently, Hayden (of Through the Illusion) asked me if I had any posts about Costa Rica. I’ve decided to compile a list of ten posts related to life in Costa Rica, and have also put together an album of photos from my most recent trip (on the Photos page), in case anyone else would like to learn a bit more about Costa Rica, or my crazy family. Also, my good friend, Ivan Campuzano, is currently living in and blogging from Costa Rica. He has posted a bunch of great videos he’s filmed as he travels around the country. Happy Travels!

1. The Simple Life: Making Coffee the Costa Rican Way

2. Save the Planet, and My Truffula Tree!

3. Guilt, Regret, and Saving the Sea Turtles

4. Growing Up on the Road Less Traveled

5. Adventure: Costa Rican Immigration Odyssey

6. 5 Lessons From my Immigration Ordeal

7. 10 Ways to Remain Calm in a Stressful Situation

8. Why Worry? Avoiding Feelings of Stress, Anxiety, and Helplessness

9. New Beginnings: Letting Go of the Past to Start Anew

10. I Naively Believe… What About You?

(Photo Credit: Landscape, Bug, Beach)

Costa Rica is Paradise (And Why I Don’t Live There) is a post from: Quest for Balance

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(Notice the tiny pumpkin in front of the A… it was strapped down, just like the giant.)

I first heard about the Giant Pumpkin Regatta on a Saturday Night Live Weekend Update skit. I believe Seth Meyers was pointing out how incredibly insane Vermonters must be to carve out giant pumpkins and then race them on the way-too-cold waters of Lake Champlain.

The moment I saw that skit I knew I would have to attend that event some day. As it turns out, the race was planned for my birthday! So, we went. I decided to share a bit of it here with you because these guys are all about having a Spirit of Adventure in everyday life.

Some of those pumpkins were close to 1,000 pounds! This is what is left of some of them. Apparently, the seeds will be gathered carefully and saved for next year’s crop… and race. The bumper sticker on the farmer’s truck says: “The Xtreme Sport of Gardening.” Ha! I love that!!

The teams spent all morning carving and painting the giant pumpkins, which then had to be lowered into the water with a tractor! I believe they said the water was about 58 degrees… and it was a super windy (and cold!) day.

These two guys are the same ones I’d seen featured on the SNL skit… they’re like celebrities, sort of. They’re actually really crazy, nutty guys who I happen to have seen on T.V. late one Saturday night, for about 20 seconds, but still… it was very exciting to see them in person!

Hunter and I, right down at the water’s edge, enjoying the view, the fun, the nuttiness, and the positive energy of everyone around us. You know when people go out of their way to see grown ups race in giant pumpkins, they must have a Spirit of Adventure and a well-developed sense of humor. I love to be around people like that… it’s contagious, you know. (PS: Those mountains in the background, on the other side of the lake… that’s the Adirondacks, in New York!)

This guy capsized (flipped over into the frigid water) wearing shorts and a T shirt! He could’ve opted to be fished out of the water but, instead, he swam the pumpkin all the way back, against the current. The crowd went wild, chanting, “JUST KEEP SWIMMING!!!” in a Finding Nemo sort of way. I felt like we were all a bunch of kids, with our hopes pinned to this one crazy guy.

In the end, it was Team Ben & Jerry’s who brought home the trophy for the company sponsor relay race. One of the team members was dressed like a cow, complete with udders and horns. This one, coming in for the win, wore the horns but opted for the Tie Dye T Shirt instead. I can’t say that I blame her.

Ah… nothing like a day at the races with the family. Here we are, posing with a couple of gentle giants. The one immediately behind me is the State champ. I have to say, this was one heck of a way to spend my birthday!

What about you?

Would you have what it takes to race one of these pumpkins? Have you ever heard of anything more random? Do you find this sort of nowhere-near-the-box thinking as refreshing as I do? Or, is it just plain crazy?

Adventure: The Lake Champlain Giant Pumpkin Regatta is a post from: Quest for Balance

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Vermont is the Green Mountain State. We live across the street from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (and the park pictured above). The state’s “universal” health care program is Green Mountain care. EVERYTHING here has something to do with “Green Mountain” yet I never realized that is what the word “Vermont” means! Taken from the French phrase, “Les Monts Verts”, Vermont literally means Green Mountain. How about that? I guess you’re never too old to learn something new.

1. Beauty, beauty everywhere!

This has been my main first impression. I can’t get over how beautiful Vermont is. No matter where I look, I see stunning Fall foliage, mountains, rivers, covered bridges, barns, and all sorts of details one would expect to find in a painting. I live in a village, where everything is within a block of Main Street.

Most of the businesses are in homes and other structures that were built in the 1800′s, but are beautifully maintained and incredibly charming. It doesn’t feel modernized, and yet, I have easy access to everything I need. Sometimes I feel like I live in a postcard! I’ve uploaded a new album to my photos page, and will update it with some hopefully more impressive pictures when we go up to Stowe.

2. Coffee, ice cream, and maple syrup… we can’t afford.

Vermont is home to Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, and untold quantities of maple syrup. I love all three, and was very excited to be moving to a place where they would be plentiful and therefore (I thought) affordable. I was right on one count: the stuff is EVERYWHERE. But it ain’t cheap!

I forgot to account for the “tourist” factor. Because people come from all over to enjoy the best of Vermont, including these products, sellers can demand premium prices. Now I’ll have to figure out how locals go about getting their goods at a reasonable cost. Seems to me, if you live in town, you should get a discount on local products. Wouldn’t you think?

3. Exercise problem solved – a town made to play.

As many of you are well aware, I hate exercise. This is really not a good thing, especially considering how much I love ice cream and other non-broccoli type foods. I’ve always known I need to find a way to add exercise to my life because, well… as it turns out, I’m not getting any younger. But it’s been oh-so-challenging on many levels.

Here, exercise just happens. Everything is in walking distance, and people are always out and about (it’s a very lively community). There are also tons of hike and bike trails, so I walk along as Hunter rides all over the place. Just yesterday we were on the Cross Vermont Trail that runs behind my house, along the Winooski river (you can cross the state on this trail from East to West). I no longer have to MAKE myself exercise; activity is now a normal part of each day.

4. Insanely good food.

I don’t know what the deal is with the food… is it the ingredients they use, or the preparation methods? Whatever it is, each and every thing I have eaten here has been delectable! The produce tastes fresher, the generic loaf bread is like dessert, the local salsa is better than any I’ve had in Latin America. It really is incredible.

Last night we ate at Sambel’s, a tiny restaurant at the airport in Berlin, and had THE BEST prime rib ever, prepared by an award-winning culinary artist, for $9.95. Granted, we should not be eating out at restaurants when we’re on a tight budget, but it was an early birthday dinner for me (Tuesday and Wednesday this famous prime rib is half-price). When you couple the great food with the incredible scenery, Vermont is truly a feast for the senses.

5. Reminds me of Austin, but colder.

I’ve lived in some pretty great places… like San Diego, Costa Rica, and Austin. One of the things I liked most about Austin was the type of people who live there, and their commitment to being different and interesting, as well as their sincere interest in making the world a better place. The city slogan is, “Keep Austin Weird” because it is an artistic, grassroots, groovy kind of place.

Vermont is a lot like that, but with snow, and six seasons: Summer, Fall, Stick Season (cold), Winter (snow), Mud Season (melting snow), and Spring. As Robert Wilson so accurately points out in his book, Vermont Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (Curiosities Series), “Vermont was born original.” Vermont refused to be one of the original colonies, opting to be a sovereign nation first! Things are just done differently around here, and that suits me just fine.

Reality Check:

Now, I realize that winter looms, and that my current enthusiasm may significantly decrease by about January, when all that’s left of the holidays is the snow, ice, and bitter cold. But, for now, I’m going to make the most of it. I want to enjoy every single moment I can precisely because there may be less enjoyable ones ahead.

This is the time to make my gratitude list, naming ALL the things I’m excited about and thankful for. Then, when my outlook is not quite so bright, and my disposition none too cheery, I can look back at my list and remind myself that I will enjoy these things again.

Keep a positive outlook.

Look on the bright side.

This, too, shall pass.

Choose to see the good.

There is always hope.

These are not just words, they are life-saving reminders. During our darkest hours, we have to keep ourselves going; no one else can do it for us. I’ve had many such hours, when I dragged myself through each day, clawing my way through every minute, clinging to every tiny bit of hope to get me through… and I’ve always made it through. Once I get to the other side, I am able to appreciate the wonders of life again… the little things, the ordinary blessings.

What about you?

Do you make it a point to notice the good things, as well as the not-so-good in your life? Do you know what you are thankful for? Look around, find five things that you love about your life right now… and write them down. Wanna share?

Thanks!!

The Full Vermonty: First Impressions is a post from: Quest for Balance

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THAT is a lot of water… rushing at insane speeds down the Niagara River and off this ledge, pummeling the rocks (and anything else) below. As I understand it, four of the Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Erie, and Huron) flow into this river… then Lake Ontario, then the St. Lawrence River and out to the Atlantic. Always have, always will.

So, of course, the only rational thing to do is to get on one of these boats (The Maid of the Mist) and get as close as possible to the falls in order to experience their hugely destructive power up close. Every one of these is packed full of people who PAY to be at the foot of the falls. We want to FEEL, and be inspired by, what water is truly capable of… even if it IS from a safe-ish distance.

It’s unbelievable, really… there are no words to describe this force of nature that will not be contained… it has a journey to complete, a purpose on this earth. This same water has continued in cycles throughout the ages: oceans to vapor to clouds to rain/ snow/ ice to rivers and lakes, and back again. Whether through sheer force, like Niagara, or through patient determination, as in the Grand Canyon, water never gives up.

Never.

And neither will I.

I am reminded of this quote by Brenda Peterson:

“Like water, be gentle and strong. Be gentle enough to follow the natural paths of the earth, and strong enough to rise up and reshape the world.”

What about YOU?

Have you learned how to be gentle AND strong? Do you know how to be patient and resourceful when possible, but forceful and determined when necessary? And do you have the wisdom to know the difference?

Thanks!!

P.S. – After reading Uzma’s comment below, I followed the link she left here and was utterly amazed by the pictures of water molecules under varying conditions of love, beauty, hatred, and ugliness. I HIGHLY recommend checking out these pictures of How Water Reflects Our Consciousness for yourselves.

Adventure: Lessons From Niagara Falls is a post from: Quest for Balance

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