I don’t know what it is about Goa that makes us go ga ga, but there is something. It almost seems to have a hometown-like draw that you keep wanting to return to. What is so special – is it the beaches, the scenic winding roads, the alcohol at almost half the regular rates (and their local Kings beer & Feni are pretty good too), the food joints (Brittos, Souza Lobo, Infantaria, Martins, Cavala, Thalassa are all my must try places), the shacks, water sports, the clubs (LPK, Club Cabana, SinQ, Titos), Sunburn, the Casinos, foreigners, the people, the entertainment? For me, the answer is Goa allows you to be yourself and have fun your way. The Goan ‘susegad‘ approach to life signifies a relaxed attitude and enjoyment of life to the fullest.
If you find happiness constantly out of reach, read this blog: Is your Happiness in the Waiting Room? (Don’t Wait for Things/People to be Happy)
Variety is truly the spice of life here, and it seems to me that the driver of its success story lies in the coexistence of the somewhat opposite worlds that it has on offer – its rustic chilled-out charm contrasting with its party capital image- indulgent but yet tolerant.
The compulsive gambler alongside the honeymoon couple, the middle income three day sight seeing Indian family tourist alongside the long term foreign visitor, the high energy college kids alongside the corporate team building visitors, the private & high end South Goa coexists with the party animal in the crowded North. In fact even the beaches seem to echo this variety from clear white sand to rocky to dark sand.
If only the coexistence of some opposites can be allowed in our life…
Embrace the Goan Susegad approach…
How little allowance we have for an opposite point of view?
Anything that doesn’t toe our line of thought, is a provocation. It’s almost like we are waiting to take offence.
Any difference of opinion is disrespect. We sense disrespect even before it’s intended. We play up the worst case scenario and react to it. Lack of trust, based on history comes back to haunt every interaction.
I have to prove that I am right every time. And in trying to do that, small things are blown out of proportion, what a simple conversation can solve is argued over and over (mostly on email that too!) and there is just so much negative emotion around benign issues.
A lot of how we react depends on our mindset because- Mindset Matters for a Happier Life
Can we allow a seemingly opposite view to exist without taking everything personally, can we have conversations to understand the other, can we disagree without becoming disagreeable, can we let a few things go and follow a take it easy policy?
Can we allow Goan Susegad to show us that opposites can indeed coexist and even thrive if we can just choose to allow it? Go Goa, Be Susegad!