Downshifting

Here in Costa Rica, it turns out there are multiple ways you downshift during your days.

First, driving anywhere here requires you to downshift to 2nd or 3rd gear, if ya have the option, pretty much on all rides. The roads go from sweetly flat to a 30% grade every other kilometer and it takes double or triple the amount of time to drive from one place to another. It's been a long time since I've driven a manual transmission daily and I'm kinda loving it. I'm loving the slower speed. Top speeds of 35 or 40mph around here - more often than not we are going 20mph:) Our faithful companion is named Wendy and she's our friend's vehicle. We're renting it for the year. High point of this downshifting to a slower speed is that it allows for lots of site seeing. I have found it sweet to see and wave to the same 20 people waiting on the road for their bus to work while I take the kids to school. And the constant comments of what we find out the window on our rides is hilarious. 

The other type of downshifting, which is always harder to do, is slowing down physically, mentally and emotionally. Things were moving super fast, awesomely so i guess, but fast and full on in the states. It's apparent whenever we travel here that the slower pace runs deep. People are not in a rush.. tranquillo, no hay prisa. Everything moves slower, people stop and chat, hang out on stoops, sit in the park, get their things done but in due time. If you get one thing done that you needed to that day, success. The days are long and sitting in the shade takes priority, a lot. 

Though it’s not only in movement or hanging out where this shows up. It in the space that is created where thought and reflection occur more readily, whether you are wanting it or not.. because there is WAY less distraction.  It’s a part of the journey I am very excited about. I am extremely good at distraction.  But I have been yearning for more deep reflection for some time now.. and have had trouble finding it. So, I was thinking that with coming here, I’d have to face all those things that I’ve so neatly tucked away in the “I’ll get to processing that later” file. Turns out there’s a lot:) 

I’m not sure of everything that I have tucked into that file, obviously. It’s been there a long time, but I’m looking forward to unearthing it. I started writing a few pages in a journal each morning, a brain dump of sorts. I’m getting up early to do it before we get the kids up for school, so i can get it on paper before things start moving. It’s been good and I’m realizing that there is a part of me that is super ready to find those practices that are grounding, reflective and honest. 

Vamos a ver. We will see.. what come up, down and sideways. I’m ready, I think?