The Intersection of Paradise & La (Agro) Dolce Vita
Suitcase ready in abandoned house Since opening up my life to others with this website in 2006, I’ve received countless comments about how wonderful my life must be living in paradise. Ha! Excuse me...
View ArticleInspiration via Acqui Terme: Listening, Sharing & Working Toward a Common Goal
Palazzo of Eleonora Ricci Misheff and Alzek Misheff, Acqui Terme, Italy In November of last year, I visited Diana Baur at her *fabulous* bed and breakfast with Sara Rosso. On our only full day there,...
View ArticlePracticing Mindfulness & Saying No to Multitasking
We don’t have running water in the orto (where the goats, chickens, and several fruit trees live), but we do have a hose that runs from our cantina over there. When we first put the animals in the...
View ArticleAligning Mind and Body Through Yoga Practice
On the journey toward calmness and peace and living with purpose, we’ve talked about mindfulness and clearing out the mind’s cobwebs and clutter, but we haven’t touched on the importance of physical...
View ArticleWhen Olive Trees Smile: How Living in My Ancestral Village Changed My Life
Olive trees in the campagna As the car wound its way up the two-mile serpentine hill, I smiled to myself, daydreaming about how I would feel when, within minutes, I would be the first in my family in...
View ArticleYou Can’t Steal Second Base with Your Foot on First
Palazzo of Eleonora Ricci Misheff & Alzek Misheff, Acqui Terme, Italy “Progress always involves risks. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first base.” - Frederick B. Wilcox I love...
View ArticleAnswering Middle of the Night Calls to Action
Chamomille Way, Badolato A few weeks ago, my eyes popped wide open in the middle of the night. I was completely, coherently awake at 3 a.m., like when a nightmare shocks you out of a deep sleep, and...
View ArticleThe Sweet Season of Change
Did you hear something? Every year at this time many of us talk about how September feels like someone has pushed the restart button and given us just a few more months to reach those yearly goals. Of...
View ArticleLiving Deliberately: When Your Loved Ones Don’t Get It
A walk in the woods “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to love deep and suck the marrow out of life. To put to rest all that was not life, and not, when I came to die,...
View ArticleWhat’s Luck Got to Do With It?
Walking on a country road “You’re so lucky to live in Italy!” “You’re so lucky to be living your dream!” These and similar statements land in my inbox a few times a month. I know what the writer means,...
View ArticleMeeting Disappointment with Friends, Gratitude, and Apple Pie
Apple pies almost ready for baking Last weekend it became clear I would not be receiving my package of cranberries and sweet potatoes in time to make an American Thanksgiving in Italy. For some, that...
View ArticleFinding Love, Peace, and Joy During the Holidays
“Peace be with you” is something Catholics say to one another during each and every Mass. “Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men” is what so many of us want year-round, but at Christmas in particular....
View ArticleOne-Word Theme for 2012: Up
Up by gothick_matt on Flickr via CC license So here we are in 2012. As you may or may not know, I lost one of my beloved goats on December 19th. I’m still recovering, slowly but surely, trying to...
View ArticleThinking Outside the Box with Agent J
One of my favorite movie scenes of all time is the testing scene in Men in Black. To refresh your memory: For those who don’t want to watch the first two minutes and fifty or so seconds of the video,...
View ArticleThe Evil of Envy & the Importance of Staying in Your Own Lane
Peperoncini & clothespins One of the most prevalent superstitions in southern Italy (and in a lot of Mediterranean cultures), is the Evil Eye. Here it’s called “malocchio” and its roots are in...
View ArticleKeeping it Simple with Pasta and Cauliflower Recipe
Pasta with cauliflower Way back when I started this blog, I posted recipes every week in a series called What’s Cooking Wednesday. I started out wanting to record the recipes I make all the time, many...
View ArticleAnnouncing My Latest Up-Venture: Gemelli Press, LLC
My one-word theme for 2012 is UP, and upwards we go, indeed . . . right into a new position as the Co-Managing Editor of Gemelli Press, LLC – Calabria location (press release). Some of you may already...
View ArticleGut Check: How Bad Do You Want It?
Closed door waiting to be opened I’m a lawyer by training and a writer by nature. Being able to pinpoint the perfect word has been a talent of mine dating at least back to my high school creative...
View ArticleWhat Are You Waiting For?
Telephone by Esparta on Flickr (CC license) What’s that? The phone ringing? The call that’s going to change your life?! Eh. Probably not. Don’t get me wrong: you may actually receive a life-changing...
View ArticleExperiencing Joy, Unapologetically and Without Fear
Gemma in my lap and Gioia looking on. As some of you know, we had a miracle happen here two weeks ago. Two miracles actually, and their names are Gemma and Gioia. Our goat Pasqualina gave birth to...
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