La Dolce Vita

Blog #2
October 3, 2010

La Dolce Vita- the sate of mind in Italy. Innocently spending time doing absolutely nothing in the most pleasant way. While it sounds like a crazy concept, sometimes I think these Italians are onto something big here. What’s so great about doing nothing? A professor once told me that some people (cultures) view time linearly (Americans), while others view time cyclically (Italians/Europeans). Obviously these are generalizations, but there’s much truth to it.

If I examine myself from this approach, I’m definitely the kind of person to obsess over time. Those who know me well would say that my Google Calendar has ALL the answers I need; schedules, plans, deadlines. What are my priorities? At what point does personal needs and relationships take precedence over punctuality?

Don’t get me wrong, hard work is very important. I wouldn’t be in Italy now if it wasn’t for years of preparation, making the best grades, and being super involved at school. I’ve always lived by the quote “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” But at what point do we stop working towards something, and simply enjoy what we have. After college, 30, 40, 50? No….most people are still working, still not satisfied.

Why is it that Italians are able to BE. Not ‘I was’ or ‘I need to be’, just ‘I am’. I’m learning this way, this dolce vita. I admire it. Where the very essence of living is to see and be seen, to love and be loved, and to experience life in the here and now,

Is it possible to give up my ways, my control-freak personality, in essence part of my American culture. To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s even possible, 100% anyway. Maybe it’s inherited at birth, something in the water. Or maybe I’m too scared to experience true freedom. Maybe I don’t want to change. For now, I sit back and learn.

Jackie <3