Sunday, July 24
Make no mistake about the fact that I certainly do recognize that my stage 4 cancer is a very serious diagnosis. I definitely do not want to diminish this reality.
Nonetheless, as Laurie and I cruised through the delightfully shaded part of our 22-mile bicycle ride yesterday, I jovially wondered if I had the (almost) perfect patient’s dream. I viewed my situation through this lens:
I have experience practically NO pain whatsoever. I have NOT had any major disruptions in either eating or sleeping. I am still able to move my body through exercise. Without a job, I have the time to dedicate myself fully to the fight. I have reasonable health insurance and adequate financial resources. I have full confidence in both my western and eastern healing teams. Additionally, both teams keep hinting towards positive results from their treatments. I have a tremendously supportive community of family and friends that just keep pouring a joyous, healing energy my way. Moreover, I feel like can call upon each and every one of you in a time of true need and you will respond immediately. Finally, I just KNOW I will come out the other end of this with a new, more appreciative lease on life. All my relationships will be deeper and more rewarding.
Presently I feel as if my (almost) perfect patient’s dream is akin to my favorite cycling situation. I am just cruising: creek-grade down, in the shade of gigantic, majestic, old growth trees, with a slight tailwind.
(Casi) la Pura Vida!
Michael,
GREAT post! I can feel the Positive Energy coming through each word and thought. WONDERFUL!
You are always in my thoughts and prayers!!
Cheers,
Bill
Buenos Dias my friend,
I loved your blog posted July 24th. It always helps to put my own life in perspective along with loving the positive ways you live. At the end, you signed off with Pura Vida. I had to look that up thinking I knew what it meant but felt there maybe something more. Forgive the long response to this, but I had to copy and paste what I found. I wanted to share. Once again…Thank you!
Pura Vida
The term has been present in Costa Rican dialect for some 50+ years. Pura Vida has a simple English translation but a far more profound meaning to the people of Costa Rica and anyone spending any amount of time in this majestic country.
Pura vida. Pronounced POO-rah VEE-dah, in English means, “Pure Life”. However, these two words have much more meaning throughout the Costa Rican culture.
But where did Costa Ricans take this phrase from? According to a study of the expression, a film called Pura vida came to Costa Rica from Mexico in 1956, directed by Gilberto Martinez Solares. In the movie, “Pura vida” is the expression of eternal optimism used by a comic character, played by the actor Antonio Espino, who unfortunately can’t seem to do anything right. While a small population used it then, the phrase “Pura vida” was used nationwide by 1970.
Associated with many different English interpretations like “pure life”, “take it easy”, “enjoy life”, “all good”, “purity in life”, “hello”, “goodbye”, “this is life!” and many many more. The point is that foreigners truly don’t have a true grasp of the meaning of “pura vida” as they are not Costa Ricans themselves.
Pura vida! Means that no matter what your current situation is, life for someone else can always be less fortunate than your own. So you need to consider that maybe…just maybe, your situation isn’t all that bad and that no matter how little or how much you have in life, we are all here together and life is short…so start living it “pura vida style”.
Buenos Dias a ti tambien mi amiga!
Thank you so much for your post and your research.
I have twice visited and spent a significant amount of time in Costa Rica. I experierenced the words and more importantly the feeling of “La Pura Vida” over and over again. It is an absolutely delightful concept! Thank you for exposing it to the folks in Mike’s blog world!
Great catch up Mike and so positive. Keeping the allora (from previous post?) in the consciousness here too, on the too hot east coast, and on an also hot family trip to Italy where I didn’t hear but felt plenty of allora. Love to you and Laurie from all of us!
Such a wonderfully positive outlook. I wouldn’t expect less from you. Know that you have a huge balance in your ‘social capital’ account at the Whitley-Smith institution and we are looking for opportunities to write you some ‘checks’. Peace