Pura Vida

The Pure Life. More an ideology than two little words. In Costa Rica, it is said that la pura vida represents "living in peace in a calm, unclustered manner, appreciating a life surrounded by nature and family and friends".  For me it is a dream. A lifes goal. It is the very essence of what I believe that life should be, yet the exact opposite from what I find life to be here in the states. I see chaos, and utter unhappiness. Many of the people I interact with on a daily basis tell me that they feel unfulfilled, rushed towards a goal that they have not yet identified. Young people, working, "productive" , essentialy disconnected from the world around them. Through my encounters with these folks, it becomes entirely clear to me how so many horrible things can take place in this broken world of ours, with so many  remain blissfully ignorant of the carnage, the genocide, the pain and neglect that are the earmarks of the 21st century. Distracted by what is percieved as the complexity of our own existence, our own purpose, we allow the world around us to fall to pieces. 
I do not presume to try to make anyone think that what I believe to be paradise is paradise for them. I only wonder if there is anyone else out there who thinks that getting back to basics, embracing community as opposed to industry, living a simple lifre as opposed to struggling at the grind and allowing the rat race to consume you might be the key to a peaceful existence. If we took away some of the chaos and complexity and selfishness of our own lives, perhaps we could then find the time and energy to help better the lives and communities of those around us..