Julie Orlov’s “Your Life Matters”

Create the Life You Choose and Choose the Life You Create

Lessons from Costa Rica

Hello Everyone:

I just returned from a two-week vacation in Costa Rica.  For those of you who may have noticed my absence, this is where I’ve been, thus explaining the lack of blog entries for the past two weeks.  I had many adventures and met so many wonderful people that left an impression that it’s hard to choose what lessons to pass on.  However, there was this one young man who worked at the front desk at the Condovac Hotel.  He told us a short story that was so simple, yet so profound, that it merits some attention.

He explained to us that he had spent a year living in the U.S.  He found the Tampa Bay area in Florida to be beautiful and rich in opportunity.  He said that he had a lot of money in his pockets (which probably by our standards was fairly modest), but found himself spending his money at bars and nightclubs.  He said he really didn’t like the life he was living.  He returned home after one year.  He told us that in the end, he may never make a lot of money, but he has happiness.  He has friends, his family, a wife and new baby.  Happiness for him was found back home in his Costa Rica.

So what was it that I found so profound in this one man’s story?  At first glance, the story is fairly simple.   Young man ventures out to America.  Gets some cash in his pockets, discovers the Florida night life, loses the money in his pockets, misses home, and eventually calls it a day and returns home.  End of story.  But let’s look a bit closer.  What lessons can we learn from this simple story?   What lessons does my Costa Rican friend offer?

There are several possibilities.  First, a timely reminder that happiness is not found in your wallet.  Mind you, I am a firm believer that one can have money in their pocket and be happy at the same time, but they are certainly not interdependent.  At a time when American consumerism and materialism is at an all time high (given the amount of money that will be spent this year on holiday gifts alone), maybe we all need a friendly reminder of what really counts…..  Being with the people we love, connecting with family, making a contribution, and living in a place and in a manner that feels like “home”. 

Second, sometimes we need to leave home in order to appreciate what home means to us.  I mean this literally as well as figuratively.  We tend to take things for granted fairly quickly – people, circumstances, health, jobs, etc.  It’s always helpful to take some sort of “vacation” away from what is familiar to us in order to gain perspective and appreciation from a distance.  This of course can result in seeing what doesn’t work for us as well as what does.

Third, it may not be as important where you live, but who you are while living there.  I believe it was not Florida that felt so foreign to the young Costa Rican man, but who he was while living there.  It was not a good fit.  Florida did not bring out the best in him, just as there are some people or situations that do not bring out the best in you.

Lastly, sometimes, simple is better; less is more.                                                              
(I think I’ll practice what I preach and add no more)

So here’s my challenge for you.  Reflect on what is truly important to you.  See how “rich” your life is at this very moment.  Ask yourself where your happiness is found.  What is your definition of “home”?  When was the last time you created some distance in order to look at your life from different perspectives?  What did you discover in the process?  Pay attention to those people or situations that bring out the best in you, or the worst in you.  Consider the lessons they are offering.   How do you want to respond?

I know, a lot to consider.  Funny how there can be so many lessons in one simple story.  Funny how just one young man working at a front desk in a hotel in Costa Rica sharing one simple story can have such an impact.  You are no different; your stories count.

Stay with me and engage in this conversation.  Your voice has an impact.  What are your thoughts on this subject?

We want to know because….Your life matters!

Take care and till next time,

Julie

For More Information on Julie Orlov Consulting, visit www.julieorlov.com

To add your contact information to our database, go to www.julieorlov.com/contactus

 


Lessons from Costa Rica

Hello Everyone:

I just returned from a two-week vacation in Costa Rica.  For those of you who may have noticed my absence, this is where I’ve been, thus explaining the lack of blog entries for the past two weeks.  I had many adventures and met so many wonderful people that left an impression that it’s hard to choose what lessons to pass on.  However, there was this one young man who worked at the front desk at the Condovac Hotel.  He told us a short story that was so simple, yet so profound, that it merits some attention.

He explained to us that he had spent a year living in the U.S.  He found the Tampa Bay area in Florida to be beautiful and rich in opportunity.  He said that he had a lot of money in his pockets (which probably by our standards was fairly modest), but found himself spending his money at bars and nightclubs.  He said he really didn’t like the life he was living.  He returned home after one year.  He told us that in the end, he may never make a lot of money, but he has happiness.  He has friends, his family, a wife and new baby.  Happiness for him was found back home in his Costa Rica.

So what was it that I found so profound in this one man’s story?  At first glance, the story is fairly simple.   Young man ventures out to America.  Gets some cash in his pockets, discovers the Florida night life, loses the money in his pockets, misses home, and eventually calls it a day and returns home.  End of story.  But let’s look a bit closer.  What lessons can we learn from this simple story?   What lessons does my Costa Rican friend offer?

There are several possibilities.  First, a timely reminder that happiness is not found in your wallet.  Mind you, I am a firm believer that one can have money in their pocket and be happy at the same time, but they are certainly not interdependent.  At a time when American consumerism and materialism is at an all time high (given the amount of money that will be spent this year on holiday gifts alone), maybe we all need a friendly reminder of what really counts…..  Being with the people we love, connecting with family, making a contribution, and living in a place and in a manner that feels like “home”. 

Second, sometimes we need to leave home in order to appreciate what home means to us.  I mean this literally as well as figuratively.  We tend to take things for granted fairly quickly – people, circumstances, health, jobs, etc.  It’s always helpful to take some sort of “vacation” away from what is familiar to us in order to gain perspective and appreciation from a distance.  This of course can result in seeing what doesn’t work for us as well as what does.

Third, it may not be as important where you live, but who you are while living there.  I believe it was not Florida that felt so foreign to the young Costa Rican man, but who he was while living there.  It was not a good fit.  Florida did not bring out the best in him, just as there are some people or situations that do not bring out the best in you.

Lastly, sometimes, simple is better; less is more.                                                              
(I think I’ll practice what I preach and add no more)

So here’s my challenge for you.  Reflect on what is truly important to you.  See how “rich” your life is at this very moment.  Ask yourself where your happiness is found.  What is your definition of “home”?  When was the last time you created some distance in order to look at your life from different perspectives?  What did you discover in the process?  Pay attention to those people or situations that bring out the best in you, or the worst in you.  Consider the lessons they are offering.   How do you want to respond?

I know, a lot to consider.  Funny how there can be so many lessons in one simple story.  Funny how just one young man working at a front desk in a hotel in Costa Rica sharing one simple story can have such an impact.  You are no different; your stories count.

Stay with me and engage in this conversation.  Your voice has an impact.  What are your thoughts on this subject?

We want to know because….Your life matters!

Take care and till next time,

Julie

For More Information on Julie Orlov Consulting, visit www.julieorlov.com

To add your contact information to our database, go to www.julieorlov.com/contactus

 







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