La Vita Bella

In the past few months I’ve been reflecting on the beautiful life (la vita bella) I lived in Florence, Italy as a study abroad college student. It’s actually something I learned from the Italians that I’m desperately missing. The culture exudes a beautiful, some what chaotic approach to life. When I first moved to Italy, this attitude drove me nuts. Stores would just be closed because the store owner had a party to attend. Or needed a nap. Trains would be cancelled because the workers went on strike just to have the day off. Sure, there were frustrating times like when we missed our flight to London because trains weren’t running and we couldn’t get to the airport. BUT I just love that they don’t take the little things too seriously.

How often do we take four hours to eat dinner just so we can enjoy the company we are with? Or let a work meeting run 30 minutes over just so you can swap personal anecdotes?

For me, I feel like I’m lacking some of this positive, happy energy (specifically during those 40+ hours I spend at work). Thankfully every day after work I get to come home to adoring husband and the happiest dog I’ve ever known. I can turn on music (lately it’s been this song) and dance around the kitchen with my husband while Bounce does circles and leaps around, sensing our blissful moods. 

Now this guy loves life!

I love Bounce and his exuberant, full of life, happy as a clam, tail wagging 90 mph, jump on me, greetings.

I’ve had the urge lately to shake the people around me who are taking life too seriously. I want to shout, “Can’t we just stop and have some FUN!? Why must we be consumed with stress all the time!?!” I wish I could show people (and remind myself) that so many of the things we stress over really don’t matter in the end. The family, friends and people we love matter, that's the stuff worth stressing over.

I keep picturing the quid essential loud, jubilant Italian family, laughing and talking over each other at dinner, sipping glass after glass of red wine, oblivious to how many minutes have ticked by because they’re having too much fun to be bothered with that kind of detail. Ciao, miei amici! 

(Okay, I'll step off my soapbox now. But seriously, I learned countless lessons during my year abroad, but this one really is priceless.)