Co-creating a New Reality

Yesterday morning I spent a few hours with a professor from the University of Costa Rica named Gloriana going over many aspects of the Center.  The evening prior, we had both attended a forum regarding the water issues in Puntarenas City.  These included the threat to a fragile wetland by the construction of a GAS STATION.  We thought about how the Communications and Radio class she is teaching here at the Center could organize to help Puntarenas City.  There is also a volunteer named JJ who is coming to do a short documentary for the Center and we thought of inviting him to help Puntarenas too.

The early afternoon was dedicated to organizing a talk that will be given here by Michiko Hayashi, who is coming to speak about the famous work on water consciousness of Dr. Emoto, a prominent scientist from Japan who transitioned in 2014.  We are so grateful to my friend Mary Newswanger who worked very hard to bring Michiko to Costa Rica.

Later in the eve there was a downpour, and people were calling the Center to see if the workshop called Community Consulting was on.  A few minutes before 5:00 p.m. and nobody had arrived.  The professor from the University of Costa Rica in Puntarenas showed up with her assistant, a little concerned about the apparent lack of participants. But we went ahead and set up the large screen, moved tables and chairs, got the materials out, etc.  Preparing as if people were going to come…and they did, a little late and a little wet.  The workshop spun into all kinds of discussions, as we all knew one another well… we have been marching on the streets together, we have shared meals at our own market, we have organized to help other communities, etc.  At the end, the project that we as a group decided to work on was this: Helping young couples with children with Effective Communication, Dealing with Emotions and Parenting.  It was decided that the workshops should be given in Guacimal, but also in a nearby very impoverished community called Colina, which suffers from all the ills that extreme poverty has to offer.  I gave the professor the contact info for Colina and left that group.  We were thrilled this Community Consulting Program of the University of Costa Rica can do this kind of work!

As I removed myself from the Events Room into our dining area, I saw my husband with our French friend Patricio in a very animated conversation in preparation for opening what we consider the last point in the triangle, the trinity, that we had envisioned long time ago... a permanent store to have products that are produced in small farms in Costa Rica, in a fair way, without chemicals and going with the natural cycles for each crop. 

Chumi, a friend and environmentalist from a nearby community came by.  He produces and sells honey and came to discuss his having a stand at the new store which we will call Cosas Buenas Market.  The store will open up soon and we are excited to see what people think of our home-made ice cream and bakery using ingredients from small farms and fruit from our trees, in addition to the crafts, grains, produce and many other things that will have a benefit for all involved.

Gloriana, the professor from the UCR who has been teaching a workshop on Communication and Radio came back and met up with the professors that were already here and became part of the discussion to help Colina.  The new professor, Marieta, must have said goodbye several times.  She said, “I keep saying goodbye and I don’t leave.  One feels so good here and never wants to leave.” I said, “It must be because we don’t want you to leave either."

We live at the Center, so at the end, we went to bed late. Our Events Room was all in disarray and our kitchen area was the same, but our hearts were filled with so much joy.  The Center is fulfilling its Mission and our Vision for it.  It waited asleep and shut down for over three decades to do this.  And as we have struggled to keep it afloat financially, we tell ourselves, “the Center itself must be very happy to be serving.  Therefore, IT will help us move all the necessary elements to do so.” 

And then we rolled over into a deep and satisfied asleep, knowing every day of our lives is filled with infinite possibilities to help and grow, to fulfill dreams, to co-create a new reality.  There is no greater payment for our work than days like this.