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[Much sent 6 people to Costa Rica for some serious adventure - watch it all go down on Tuesday, December 29 @8pm ET, December 30 @5pm ET and January 3 @7pm ET!]

Pura Vida! to all my new friends and family, both living in Toronto and back in Costa Rica. Doin’ Costa Rica, has become a staple in my heart for one of my life’s most memorable lived experiences. Firstly, I would like to say thank you to MuchMusic for the opportunity of a lifetime. Secondly, to all my new friends and family in Costa Rica who graciously opened their hearts and lives to us.

For me, this trip was my first of many. First time being on an all inclusive resort, first time surfing, first time horse back riding, first time zip lining, first time having a bonfire, etc. Each day I felt like a big kid literally exploring the country and being so excited and happy for what each day may bring.

Finally, what I took away from Costa Rica was their cultural mandate and way of life, Pura Vida! It literally means “pure life”, but the meaning is closer to “full of life”, “purified life”, “this is living!”, “going great”, or “cool!” It can be used as a greeting, as a word of farewell, to express satisfaction, or to politely express indifference when describing something. However, Costa Ricans use the phrase to express a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, resilience in overcoming difficulties with good spirits, enjoying life slowly, and celebrating good fortune of magnitudes small and large alike.

This phrase and way of life helped me to refocus my life’s direction. After returning back home, I was still so much in love with the phrase that I got Pura Vida tattooed behind my right shoulder. It’s my staple to always live a life that’s filled with love, positivity, inspiration, enjoying life to the fullest and being grateful for all its magnificences.

As I always say…

Love More & Peace to All!

- Michael Brown a.k.a Cloud Hopper!

Tags: adventure, costa rica, holiday wrap, tv

Posted on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 3:47 pm by Guest Blogger and is filed under We <3 TV.

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• Doin’ Costa Rica: Nick
• Doin’ Costa Rica: Greg