The Travel Channel Declares Costa Rica the Happiest Country on Earth!
A few days ago as I was having my first cup of coffee, I was browsing my list of ‘must read’ sites when I came across a familiar title, “Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World”.
As usual, I clicked on the link to satisfy my curiosity. I was not surprised to see Costa Rica standing in the number one spot. This time it was a Travel Channel article proclaiming Costa Rica to be the happiest country in the world.
Just a few years ago, the Happy Planet Index was introduced by the New Economics Foundation. They used specific criteria to rate the happiness of countries around the world. Costa Rica has taken top honors more than once. Now everyone from Forbes to The Huffington Post and their mothers have similar indexes, ranking happiness around the globe.
I have read the articles, indexes, and surveys and for the most part I agree with the reasons why each destination has made these lists. Seeing this familiar subject, I began to think about how I perceive the happiness of the Costa Rican people and why I think they are happy.
Happiness. What does it even mean to be happy? Does having a house with the proverbial white picket fence, the latest model car in the driveway, and 1.9 children make one happy? Does turning one’s home into an interior designer’s showplace make one happy?
Does having this season’s Chanel bag, Manolo Blahnik shoes, or Dolce&Gabbana suit make you happy? The reality is YES, all these things can make you happy. However, if you are an unhappy person on the inside and you think that you can purchase the emotion along with ‘things”, then you are on a rocky road to Doomsville.
In my short 40 years on this earth, the one thing I know for sure is that happiness comes from within. There is nothing from the external world that will make you happy unless you are happy on the inside first.
There are a few things that I have observed living here in Costa Rica, but the most profound has been how truly happy the Ticos (Costa Ricans) seem to be. It has been my observation that there are several reasons for this happiness.
A deep sense of family – Costa Rican families are very close and loving with the family unit coming first. Another important aspect of the Costa Rican family is they tend to be multigenerational and extended with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws all living in close proximity to one another.
A connection with spirit – Costa Rican people tend to be very religious/spiritual. This creates a strong sense of self worth, in addition to respect for and value of other human beings.
Social network – Costa Ricans are very social people and curious about life. When researching my move to Costa Rica, I had read that Costa Ricans could be standoffish and that it would take time making Costa Rican friends. I have found just the opposite to be true. The locals have gone out of their way to make me feel at home and are always curious to know about my background and culture. Costa Ricans also look for any excuse to have a party, to sing, dance and just have a good time.
Open and accepting – It has been my experience that Costa Ricans are very open-minded and have a ‘live and let live’ mentality about life. They may not always agree with how you live your life, but they show respect and ask that you show them the same respect.
Healthy lifestyle – Traditionally speaking, Costa Rica is an agriculture based society. The food is basic (rice, beans, tubers, corn, vegetables and minimal meat) but healthy. Exercise is commonplace whether taking a morning walk, riding a bicycle, playing football (soccer), or herding cattle. Another contributor to the healthy society is a world class health care system which is accessible to every citizen.
Work to live, not live to work – Gerardo taught me this saying years ago. He said we as Ticos work to live, we don’t live to work like you Americans do. Simple seems to be better. If you have a loving family, a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, rice and beans to eat, and enough money for a party or weekend at the beach, then you are RICH!
Pura Vida – This overused saying that translates to pure life is not just a saying in Costa Rica. It is a way of life. Pura Vida means so many things but living a pure life means you have all of the above: a deep sense of family, strong faith, a good social network, a healthy lifestyle, open and accepting of others, and you work to live, not live to work!
In addition to these points, Costa Rica has an abundance of stunning, natural beauty that includes volcanic mountains, sun drenched sandy beaches, and rainforest canopies filled with wildlife. The climate of the Central Valley is mild, without extreme heat or cold.
This, combined with a stable government and economy, and how could you help but to be happy? There is so much we can learn from the Costa Rican people about being happy. Come and visit Costa Rica and see for yourself why its people are so happy, but be forewarned…happiness is contagious. Proceed with caution!
The Travel Channel Declares Costa Rica the Happiest Country on Earth!
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Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.
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