It All Starts with a Cup of Coffee at Your Local Soda. . Your Life Could Change After the First Sip!

If you have been following our stories about Costa Rica, you know that we are simply sharing all of the GOOD NEWS that we have experienced ourselves here in paradise. If you are looking for bad news here, you won't find it. Yes, there is a lot of negatives that we can surely highlight, but not on my watch. There's no time for it. When you find yourself drifting backwards into that bottomless hole of greed, envy, loneliness & hate, snap out of it and head to one of Costa Rica's breeding grounds for many feel-good experiences. . your local soda.

For those of you who have never been to Costa Rica before and don't know what a soda is, it's a local diner. They are found in every town, big and small, in every corner of this country. Sometimes they are strategically located at bus stations and in the downtown areas. They serve tasty food, good coffee and they always seem to be busy. Lots of families own and run these sodas and you'll see some of the same people there every day! It's a good place to immerse yourself into the culture. All of your past problems, your bad memories and your negative thoughts will melt away after your first sip of coffee. You will enter a zone in which it is easy to get lost and never want to come back.

It all starts with a smiling face or two. You have to understand that after your first time visiting a particular soda, you're considered 'family'! You'll surely see the same waitress there. The cook will look up from his hot, steamy grill and give you a nod and a wink. They all will welcome you and you'll see the coffee pot coming your way without even ordering! They probably will remember exactly what you ordered from the day before!

It is an amazing concept that I did not see too much of in the USA. The idea that if you are friendly to someone, beyond expectations, they will probably return the next day. . and the day after that. . and again on the weekend! We all want to be acknowledged and recognized. We want to feel special when we go somewhere. This is what the local soda does for us all.

I know you remember the old sitcom, "Cheers" back in the 80's. Of course, when Norm walked in, everybody shouted his name. I watch almost every episode from September, 1982 until May of 1993. 11 seasons and over 275 episodes! Norm NEVER MISSED one night at the bar for all of those seasons. You know why? He felt welcome. . simple as that.

If the soda serves good food, and honestly, you'll find your favorites after you're here for a while. . then it's going to be busy. You may have to wait for a seat, but not for long!

Remember, your day just started. Everything that will happen to you lies ahead of you. If you start out by knowing that things are going to go right, they will. How many new friends will you meet today? You think to yourself, "Will any of these strangers that I am sitting next to change my life in any way?" They may just do that, but you have to talk to them first. I can't tell you how many times I have taken a sip of coffee, turned my head and said a simple, "hola", to a stranger. One time I did just that, and month later, that GOOD FRIEND of mine. . that "stranger-no-more" invited me to his finca a few miles outside of town. He introduced me to his wife and children. As his wife was preparing dinner for us, Juan and I were on horseback surveying the 'back 40' of his property. You see, it turned out that he was a very successful farmer, whose family had owned that land for over 75 years. And, it turned out that two years later, he bought another piece of property from me. So just by uttering that little word, "hola", to a total stranger. . at the local diner, I made a lifelong friend and made a sale. And that dinner we shared at his home that first time visiting was one of the best dinners I have had since I have lived here! That was 10 years ago and I still go for dinner every month or so!

I know sometimes that we just don't feel like saying anything. But you have an obligation to yourself to IMMERSE yourself in the culture here. Get INSIDE OF IT and don't look back. If you don't know Spanish, then learn it. After a while it will come easier for you. You'll be proud of yourself, I promise!

The fact is that none of us know what today will bring. But, if you start it off in a local soda, in a new country. . with strangers surrounding you. and perhaps a language you can't speak, then YOU HAVE NOWHERE TO GO but UP, UP, UP! Take advantage of what we have here and go for the gusto. Take a sip and talk a bit. Say that easy, four-letter-word, "HOLA" every time you have a chance to do so. It WILL change your life for the better!

We'll see you here soon. . Pura Vida. .

You're invited to visit our websites at www.costaricagoodnewsreport.com & www.costaricaimmigrationandmovingexperts.com

Also, please enjoy our over 1,800 episodes of our "Costa Rica Minute / Costa Rica Pura Vida Lifestyle Podcast Series". We are found on all major podcast venues, including iHeartRADIO, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Radio FM, Anchor and many more. Here's our link: www.anchor.fm/costa-rica-pura-vida