Good Morning Kirsten, I love all your subjects.These are subjects I have thought about for many years. Hence, why we too moved to Italy etc.. After listening to this, and having the background experience of how this all compares: I think for me what gets lost in translation here in the US is when you are always gunning for the big life and the bigger life and the more is better life, it erases the daily whimsy. The magical moments of everyday life. The serendipity that really being present brings. The rush job life cancels it out and you lose this thread to the spiritual element involved in this existence.
Extra Note: Also, Europe is so much older. It has plenty of time to figure out what's really important.
It's a shame that municipalities in the US make it nearly impossible to build a fully functional "tiny-home" when so many people are looking to downsize.
I appreciate this conversation between two women that I have learned so much from over the years. It is encouraging to see you both evolve and change and grow. Deep gratitude.
It's hard to imagine stepping off the productivity hamster wheel. When my husband and I did it and moved to Italy, it felt like stepping off a cliff into a vortex that blew apart every paradigm we had about is precious and real.
There are concerns I have about Italy now.
I remember walking into Eataly the first time in Manhattan and feeling queezy. Eataly is huge in Piemonte; it was founded here. The founder Oscar Farinetti, who lives in my village of Novello, now has stake in many, many Italian small food producers to guarantee the supply chain (this is the queezy part - using small producers and supply chain in the same sentence). I have no quarrel with him personally - but I worry how he and others like him can change the beautiful Italian small producer landscape you described, Kirsten.
I could go on but suffice it to say that I loved the interview and it moved me into deeper thought about my own personal happiness and how, even now in my 60s, I can rabbit-hole myself into more bigger faster stronger even though I started with my slower life decades ago.
Yes, I am afraid that American do more be more culture and mentality has been exported around the world. There’s obviously no perfect place to go, but even with there being some Italians who are buying into this, it’s still such a radically different culture. And this is not to romanticize it I know there is no perfect place but it’s all relative--The question is, are there just some people doing this or is entire culture organized around this idea like it is in the United States, right?
Yes, I agree, it's relative. And there are still pockets of Italy that remain untouched, either by their choice, or that they haven't been fully discovered or both.
And like all things business, there are certainly upsides for Italy, which itself does so little to help small producers of these astounding products.
Oh it gets complicated! But I am certainly happy to be able to experience what beauty comes from enough being enough - it's a lesson that Italy graciously teaches. 🧡 it's wonderful you will soak in its magic.
Good Morning Kirsten, I love all your subjects.These are subjects I have thought about for many years. Hence, why we too moved to Italy etc.. After listening to this, and having the background experience of how this all compares: I think for me what gets lost in translation here in the US is when you are always gunning for the big life and the bigger life and the more is better life, it erases the daily whimsy. The magical moments of everyday life. The serendipity that really being present brings. The rush job life cancels it out and you lose this thread to the spiritual element involved in this existence.
Extra Note: Also, Europe is so much older. It has plenty of time to figure out what's really important.
Laura
Yes exactly!!!
It's a shame that municipalities in the US make it nearly impossible to build a fully functional "tiny-home" when so many people are looking to downsize.
I appreciate this conversation between two women that I have learned so much from over the years. It is encouraging to see you both evolve and change and grow. Deep gratitude.
Thank you!! 🙏
Oh. Yes. A very true and lovely conversation.
It's hard to imagine stepping off the productivity hamster wheel. When my husband and I did it and moved to Italy, it felt like stepping off a cliff into a vortex that blew apart every paradigm we had about is precious and real.
There are concerns I have about Italy now.
I remember walking into Eataly the first time in Manhattan and feeling queezy. Eataly is huge in Piemonte; it was founded here. The founder Oscar Farinetti, who lives in my village of Novello, now has stake in many, many Italian small food producers to guarantee the supply chain (this is the queezy part - using small producers and supply chain in the same sentence). I have no quarrel with him personally - but I worry how he and others like him can change the beautiful Italian small producer landscape you described, Kirsten.
I could go on but suffice it to say that I loved the interview and it moved me into deeper thought about my own personal happiness and how, even now in my 60s, I can rabbit-hole myself into more bigger faster stronger even though I started with my slower life decades ago.
Thank you and warmest wishes.
Yes, I am afraid that American do more be more culture and mentality has been exported around the world. There’s obviously no perfect place to go, but even with there being some Italians who are buying into this, it’s still such a radically different culture. And this is not to romanticize it I know there is no perfect place but it’s all relative--The question is, are there just some people doing this or is entire culture organized around this idea like it is in the United States, right?
Yes, I agree, it's relative. And there are still pockets of Italy that remain untouched, either by their choice, or that they haven't been fully discovered or both.
And like all things business, there are certainly upsides for Italy, which itself does so little to help small producers of these astounding products.
Oh it gets complicated! But I am certainly happy to be able to experience what beauty comes from enough being enough - it's a lesson that Italy graciously teaches. 🧡 it's wonderful you will soak in its magic.
Good enough, ladies. Here's my contribution: https://garygruber.com/when-is-good-enough-good-enough/