Photo: Riomaggiore, Italy
I recently had the opportunity of traveling to my favorite country of all time — Italia! Truly, it was a dream come true to return back for the first time in 14 years, this time as an adult. Now there are countless reasons why so many people love Italy—I mean, come on, pasta and gelato everyday? Sign me up!
And while, yes, the food is a huge draw to the country and richness of their culture, I think it goes far deeper than that. As Americans we are driven by filled schedules, multiple letters after our name, endless striving, and truthfully, a fear of actually living life. We are so busy bustling around, I think we’ve forgotten the art of what a truly meaningful life consists of. I touched upon this more in my previous article “The Italian Art of Leisure and Joy”, but I believe there’s still more to it.
I approached my trip with two intentions in mind: to fully embrace la dolce vita (the sweet life) and embody dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing). I had a vision of what that would look like: let’s see, start the day with a cornetto and espresso seated outside il bar, then wander along the beautiful, colorful streets along the coast, speaking to the locals whenever possible, and fully embracing all that the culture has to teach me. Oh, and end the night with gelato, perfetto!
Like any “perfect plan” that is set in motion, things didn’t quite go as planned, but I can truthfully say I immersed myself in the culture and soaked in every possibility to its fullest! (Although I didn’t leave the country with a job offer at il ristorante, I did make a few connections that could potentially get me a job… I think?). I wasn’t quite sure what fully encompassed la dolce vita and dolce far niente and as a recovering striver, I wasn’t sure how I’d respond to releasing complete control of my routine, my environment, my schedule.
I think that’s where the sweetness came in. I allowed myself to live so differently from what I’m used to. I barely ate a vegetable in 10 whole days. I never lifted a weight. I didn’t even see a gym! So many of the things that give me structure weren't there. And leaning into what the culture did have truly left an imprint on me. I’d like to share those take-aways with you, as they have changed the way I look at my own everyday living and inspired me to honor my life—and joy and serenity—through the lens of la dolce vita.
Here are 5 lessons I learned to live out la dolce vita:
1. Everyone is family. All of the stereotypes about Italian friendliness is true. The way they embraced my friends and me as though we were their family (rather than bustled and jostled around travelers) made us feel so welcomed, so embraced— a sense of belonging. They treat everyone as if they are at Sunday supper! This truly was one of the best experiences of the entire trip for me. It’s all about connection.
2. Simple routine. There is nothing quite as simple, yet sweet, as the daily routine al bar (which in Italy is equivalent to our cafes): seeing the same, welcoming barista every morning, being greeted with a friendly buon giorno!, and sipping the first few moments of the day (and espresso) overlooking the water. The Italians have their own type of routine: espresso by morning, pasta by evening. Repeat. Let me tell you, I can get behind that! Italians aren’t afraid to enjoy life. Their daily routines are important to them and they make it count, too. It’s enjoyable, leisurely, and based around community.
3. Fresh, fresh, fresh. I can still taste the tomato sauce on my lips as I call to mind the margarita pizza I had in Riomaggiare (one of the five towns in Cinque Terre). I swear the tomato was taken off the vine earlier that day. It was the freshest sauce I’ve ever had. I have never felt freer than when eating the fresh food in Italy. Everything digested so well despite eating all of the foods that America attaches so much judgment towards. The Italians know how to savor and they make even the simplest ingredients taste like it was made for royalty!
4. Walk, walk, walk. Let me tell you, I didn’t miss the gym. 380 zig-zagging steps from the bottom of the train station to the top of Corniglia where we stayed…I LOVED IT! Walking was a huge part of everyday living. I loved how it was effortlessly woven into each day. Whether it was walking to the train station, or through the different towns, or even walking to get dinner or gelato. It was such a pleasant, delightful, and functional form of everyday transportation. Not to mention, it helps with digestion and allows you to enjoy the panoramic views!
5. Enjoyment is a priority. Whether it’s dining around the table or walking through a piazza and stumbling across a celebration in the streets with free lemon cake and live music (true story), Italians know how to live! Eating pasta isn’t a source of shame or equated with “breaking the diet” the way it is in the US. Perhaps the most beautiful and priceless gift of all that Italy taught me is to loosen my grip on what “healthy” is. A healthy outlook, a free mind and spirit, less stress and striving, is better than 10 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. Life can only be truly savored when you allow yourself to enjoy the little things!
I’ve reflected on how I can bring the la dolce vita approach to my own life. Ambiance is important. Working outside under a park bench is lovely, bringing a homemade espresso to enjoy alongside is living. As I continue to deepen my understanding of the culture, I’m sure I’ll continue to be inspired by the Italians’ sweet, simple way of life. I hope these 5 lessons help inspire you to deepen your appreciation of the simple, sweetness of life. And I hope that if you’ve not yet traveled to Italy, you do so. May it awaken a joy and feeling of abundance in your heart, the way it continues to do to mine!