Well, well, well…it has been SO LONG since I’ve had the time to sit and be present here with my lap top and my thoughts to share reflections and updates! So many things have happened. Let me just take a metaphorical remote control, press fast forward, and catch you up to speed:
Because of my 90 day visa, my life in Italy had an expiration date which meant I had to leave at the end of November. This was a very hard reality for me to accept. As the end of November approached, the weight of leaving became heavier and heavier. After all, who would ever want to leave Italy!? I’d truly found my stride in Rome. My life had changed in so many exciting ways and my heart had never been fuller.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the most meaningful takeaways: the amazing people I met inspired me remarkably and learning about the different cultures and backgrounds expanded my view of life, beyond my own little world on this side of the ocean. We shared meaningful and laughter-filled conversations over 4 hour dinners, savoring each bite of pasta and tiramisu, and I learned a newfound appreciation for red wine (I’d never liked wine before…but shhh, don’t tell the Italians!). A “casual” night out was spent with friends talking outside the colosseum, which was utterly mesmerizing at night. I described it as “la candela di Roma” - Rome’s candle! And of course, learning the language and doing my best to practice and implement my learnings in “real time” as I went about daily life was both invigorating and humbling: from being greeted by the locals, to befriending the workers at the grocery store, to asking questions like “where is the bathroom” and realizing I could never remember the difference between left and right (a sinestra means to the left and a destra means to the right, in case you needed to know). These moments became daily sparks of joy for me. But most of all…I learned what it meant to fall in love with my life. This dream I had my eyes and heart set on was a new way of being that was life-changing, soul-enriching, and heart-filling.
Once my 90 day visa expired, I came back home, which, if I can be honest, felt like emotional whiplash: transitions and change are hard. One day I was living the reality of long-awaited dreams coming true and thriving and life being full of so many new experiences to being back home which felt a little bit like falling down from a hot air balloon. Thud. Although my life in Italy didn’t erase real life challenges, coming home was a drastic shift.
While I haven’t written about it publicly, my family had a recent loss in the family while I was away in Rome. Life altering events are never easy to process, but that, in addition to navigating some current health challenges and a recent mental health diagnosis, made coming back home and this holiday season even more challenging.
A first Christmas after losing a loved one has a prominent heaviness. There’s no avoiding the reality of the grief, sorrow, and ache. And those things aren’t meant to be avoided. Grief is sacred. In fact, the full spectrum of being human is sacred and I believe that is in part because life’s not always easy. The hard parts seem to contribute to life’s poignancy. I continue to learn that a meaningful life isn’t immune to trial and adversity. If we allow it to, suffering has a way of softening us, awakening deeper depths, and expanding our capacity to feel, understand, love and truly see others—even when we don’t fully understand our own suffering. (Note: I also believe joy has a way of transforming us too! See below for my strategies!).
While 2025 is on the horizon, I continue to reflect back on everything 2024 brought: immense and unforeseen hardship; diving deep into the trenches of a personal health scare and diagnosis; navigating heartbreak; losing a parent…to discovering more about myself and the deepest sense of belonging I’ve ever known; to learning the importance of surrender, the fragility of life, the importance of connection; to practicing the art of slowing down and experiencing true contentment; to expanding my capacity to feel it all. The highs and lows and everything in between! 2024 taught me so much and I am filled with gratitude for that.
While there are many other things I hope to share soon, I would like to finish with a few strategies I’ve started to implement that I’ve found helpful, especially on days that are more challenging or when I need the reminder of the true beauty and sweetness of life that is always available to me. These practices — inspired by the Italian way of life — have inspired me to take deeper root in a life that is more gentle, joyful, and richly meaningful.
Living the Italian way according to these 3 life philosophies:
La Vita E’ Bella:
This translates as: life is beautiful. Remembering this truth has helped me to focus on what’s truly meaningful in life. This has led me to a deeper appreciation for the importance of relationships, connection, and joy.
Ask yourself: What makes life beautiful to me? What reminds me of the beauty of life? Some examples for me include:
Watching a sunset
Writing a letter to a friend or loved one
Meeting up with a friend to walk in nature
Doing something spontaneous (either alone or with a loved one!)
La Dolce Vita:
You may already know this one! Ahh, the sweet life. This tradition reminds me to be more child-like. Why not get excited about a little treat after lunch? Or setting aside time to paint or partake in something that feels playful!?
Ask yourself: What makes life oh-so-sweet to me?
Some examples:
Un caffe con un cornetto (espresso and croissant) is classico in Italy! (Personally I enjoy a piece of chocolate. Do what feels sweet to you!)
Baking your favorite cookies and eating it mindfully while looking out the window
Trying a new restaurant or a new recipe
Eating your favorite childhood snack
Il Dolce Far Niente:
This translates as the sweetness of doing nothing. This goes against pretty much everything about American culture: REST! Prioritizing restoration has only ever made my life better and better.
Ask yourself: What does rest look like for me?
Some examples:
Physical rest: Prioritizing sleep is a great place to start.
Mind rest: a creative project or a social media fast
Heart rest: reconnecting with a hobby, watching a favorite childhood movie, making a vision board
Soul rest: a daily ritual of journaling, prayer, yoga, meditation, lying under a tree, grounding in nature
I hope you find these little ideas helpful in your own life, as they’ve become a way to live more intentionally for me. I like to take a little inventory of myself daily and ask myself: which of these life philosophies will be most supportive for me today? Trust your instincts—you really can’t go wrong with any of these! And even though being human can be hard, I want to remind you:
Dreams are possible.
Healing happens in the present moment.
Being is more important than doing.
Life is a wonder.
Ci vediamo presto - We will see each other soon!
And until then - buon anno - happy new year!
With love and serenity,
Colleen