August 30, 2022

By Miranda Waters

‘Pomalo’, a salutation, a valediction, but most importantly, a way of life. Directly translated from Croatian it means ‘take it easy’, but it is so much more. Here in Croatia and especially Omiš it is a philosophy. On the way back down from a sunset hike, we met a mountaineer named Neno who taught us all about ‘pomalo’ and what it means to him. For Neno ‘pomalo’ is very straight forward, it is just a reminder to take things slowly. As he was leading us down the mountain it was very dark, rocky, and slippery. He kept saying ‘pomalo’ to remind us to take our time and watch our step down the steep mountain, if we didn’t then it was a long way down. Neno’s advice can be extended to the way we live. If we take things too quickly in life we could slip and it could be very difficult to recover, it’s much more beneficial for us to take things slowly and relax. 

Growing up in the United States it is so refreshing to see a society of people that take their time and stop to take in the simple things around them. Here in Omiš, especially when it gets hot, it is not uncommon for afternoon naps, slow walking, and even slow thinking. In the United States, we are in a society where we are always doing something that is a means to an end. We go to high school and get good grades to get into college. We go to college to get a good job and then we settle down and work that job tirelessly without a second thought. We rarely stop to think about if what we are doing is making us happy or if we are just doing it out of obligation or societal standards. 

I’ve noticed that the way of life here in Omiš is much more relaxed. It seems like here in Omiš everyone prioritizes joy and relaxation in their daily lives, which makes for an overall happier community. People take Sunday to go to church and then they dedicate the rest of their day to their families, it’s a priority. Sometimes people are late to certain scheduled events, it’s expected. Sometimes families close their restaurants a little early to go out for a couple drinks before heading home, that’s normal. It’s a very simple style of life not reliant on the clock. 

When I was in Costa Rica they had a very similar phrase, ‘pura vida’, which directly translated means ‘pure life’ but it is similarly used as a greeting or a goodbye while also being a lifestyle. They also take things slowly and have a much simpler way of life. They take the time to grow their own food and walk or bike to all their destinations. They all have a hobby or a trade passed down from generation to generation through the family. Americans often lose sight of the value in these meditative practices. There are pros and cons to both life styles. America has made undeniably impressive advancements through the years but that comes with sacrifice: stress, burnout, and a lack of appreciation for smaller quieter tasks.

Neno says that ‘pomalo’ is the most important Croatian phrase to learn; you know that and you’re practically a local. This morning Billy, Sophia, and I were discussing what we thought ‘pomalo’ meant and of course it means something a little different to everyone. For me ‘pomalo’ is a reminder not to worry, to have faith that everything will be alright given time, and to do the things that bring me joy. I hope this encourages you to ‘pomalo’ and maybe think about what it means to you.