Sharing two meaningful concepts that I encourage you to adopt as you settle into life in Costa Rica.

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1. Life in a collective society.

The first concept is the idea of Costa Rica as a collective society, a deeply beautiful and inspiring aspect of life here.

Life here isn’t about “every human for themselves.”

For example, over the last few weeks, we’ve experienced catastrophic rain, flooding, and landslides. The damage has been immense, and unlike some other countries, there isn’t a FEMA here. The people who have lost their homes and livelihoods don’t have an organization stepping in to replace everything, they rely on the support of their community.

That’s one of the incredible things about Costa Rica. When catastrophes happen, the collective spirit shines through. People come together to help one another in meaningful ways.

This inspired me to share a post in a Facebook group for travelers and tourists. I suggested that, instead of spending money on an overpriced Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant, to please consider redirecting that money to help the communities most in need.

While most responses were positive, some people were very angry. They accused me of judging, shaming, and something called “virtue signaling”—a term I had to guess the meaning of, since I left the US in 2012 and don’t keep up with those “fad” words. None of those things were my intention. I was simply offering an option and bringing awareness to the hardships people are facing here.

Many of those affected have lost everything, and often, they don’t have insurance to replace their beds, refrigerators, ovens, or anything else destroyed. This is why Costa Rica’s collective nature is so powerful—it’s about coming together to help, whether through financial support, donating time and energy, or simply raising awareness.

That’s one of the reasons I love this country so much.

2. Gratitude Every Day

The second concept came from a comment on my post. A woman said, “This is our day to give thanks. Don’t take it away from us.”

I found that perspective unfortunate because gratitude doesn’t have to be confined to one day a year. In fact, it’s a beautiful practice to carry with you daily.

When I lived in California, I practiced daily gratitude, and in Costa Rica, it feels like gratitude is embedded into the culture. One of my favorite expressions here is qué dicha, which roughly translates to “how lucky I am,” “how blessed I am,” or “how grateful I am.”

You hear it all the time—people expressing gratitude for the sunshine, the rain, the roof over their heads, the food on their tables, or simply the ability to go to work that day. It’s a daily reminder to appreciate both the big and small things in life.

So, if you’re moving to Costa Rica, I strongly encourage you to adopt these two values. Find ways to embody the collective spirit and contribute to the community. And cultivate gratitude every single day—not just once a year. It will open your heart, mind, and world in so many beautiful ways.