Ah what a beautiful piece. Strangely I feel like Dave and I discovered Slow Living when I was pregnant with my first child in Italy. We pootled about from vineyard to village and everything just fit - we were part of the fabric, already invited. There was bread and dancing and gentle observations and it just kind of stuck. My husband is naturally ALOT slower than me - he’s taught me such a lot about the simple pleasure and ritual of making and enjoying coffee and tea.
I’m going to pick our elderflowers to make into cordial this week. I’m busy at work but I want to hold the potential of the process of this slow task and stitch it into my week.
Aww I love that! I think it’s impossible not to embrace slow living when you’re in Italy, they just do it so well! You truly do become part of the fabric there. It’s so special.
I love that your husband has really led the way with slower living, that’s so special.
Ooh, elderflower cordial sounds so yummy!! Enjoy!!
I love Italy so much. I have family in Trieste and can’t wait to go back soon! I first discovered the Slow Food Movement in Morecambe, Lancs of all places. I was a student at Lancaster Uni and my friend and I fancied a day out so drove to Morecambe. There was a lovely little tea shop called The Artisan which served loose tea which came in giant teapots. They did the best panini and cakes and all as local as possible. They had the manifesto on the tables if I remember rightly. It became a regular place for us on non-lecture days. I wonder if it’s still there.
Wow, the way you wrote this makes me feel like I was right there with you! What a beautiful story. I love that the tea shop had the manifesto in it. You'll have to revisit one day and see if it's still there!! Thank you for sharing your journey into slow living with me :)
The Italians speak of La Dolce Far Niente, the sweetness of doing nothing. It took me a long time to figure out that "doing nothing" wasn't really doing nothing, but an inward journey that lead to paying attention differently to life. Noticing awe and wonder. It took a trip to Ecuador to make me re-evaluate my life and make big changes. Now years later I'm a slow living evangelist in Portugal, writing, walking the cliffs of the Algarve and writing my third book. It wasn't easy to get here, but totally worth it. Also, your Substack name reminds me of mine - Nothing Is Ordinary! I love the word Magic too!
Ahh yes!! I actually just made a reel on Instagram with a voiceover talking about La Dolce Far Niente! I love that you brought that up. It’s so true, Italians are slow living professionals!
Sounds like you’re living a beautiful life in Portugal! And I love the name of your Substack, we are definitely aligned there!! Thanks for commenting! ✨
What a lovely history - of course it all comes back to food in Italy! In my life, I equate slow living with mindfulness and I started really embracing this actively in 2019. However, in practice the first few years of my youngest child’s life (2011-2014) were when I first consciously stopped myself and said, “Pay attention. This won’t last and you must be here for it.” Things sped up again for awhile, but I am back to the practice of trying to think before making plans, noticing what is happening and what I’m feeling, and above all, working on being content right where I am.
I love that, Katy! I really do think motherhood is the perfect introduction to slow living because it does force you to be as present as possible, especially those first few years. I’m so glad you’re finding the slow again in your life, it’s truly a remarkable practice to follow! Thank you for sharing your journey :)
Ah what a beautiful piece. Strangely I feel like Dave and I discovered Slow Living when I was pregnant with my first child in Italy. We pootled about from vineyard to village and everything just fit - we were part of the fabric, already invited. There was bread and dancing and gentle observations and it just kind of stuck. My husband is naturally ALOT slower than me - he’s taught me such a lot about the simple pleasure and ritual of making and enjoying coffee and tea.
I’m going to pick our elderflowers to make into cordial this week. I’m busy at work but I want to hold the potential of the process of this slow task and stitch it into my week.
Happily travels to you. Cx ✨🪄
Aww I love that! I think it’s impossible not to embrace slow living when you’re in Italy, they just do it so well! You truly do become part of the fabric there. It’s so special.
I love that your husband has really led the way with slower living, that’s so special.
Ooh, elderflower cordial sounds so yummy!! Enjoy!!
I love Italy so much. I have family in Trieste and can’t wait to go back soon! I first discovered the Slow Food Movement in Morecambe, Lancs of all places. I was a student at Lancaster Uni and my friend and I fancied a day out so drove to Morecambe. There was a lovely little tea shop called The Artisan which served loose tea which came in giant teapots. They did the best panini and cakes and all as local as possible. They had the manifesto on the tables if I remember rightly. It became a regular place for us on non-lecture days. I wonder if it’s still there.
Wow, the way you wrote this makes me feel like I was right there with you! What a beautiful story. I love that the tea shop had the manifesto in it. You'll have to revisit one day and see if it's still there!! Thank you for sharing your journey into slow living with me :)
The Italians speak of La Dolce Far Niente, the sweetness of doing nothing. It took me a long time to figure out that "doing nothing" wasn't really doing nothing, but an inward journey that lead to paying attention differently to life. Noticing awe and wonder. It took a trip to Ecuador to make me re-evaluate my life and make big changes. Now years later I'm a slow living evangelist in Portugal, writing, walking the cliffs of the Algarve and writing my third book. It wasn't easy to get here, but totally worth it. Also, your Substack name reminds me of mine - Nothing Is Ordinary! I love the word Magic too!
Ahh yes!! I actually just made a reel on Instagram with a voiceover talking about La Dolce Far Niente! I love that you brought that up. It’s so true, Italians are slow living professionals!
Sounds like you’re living a beautiful life in Portugal! And I love the name of your Substack, we are definitely aligned there!! Thanks for commenting! ✨
What a lovely history - of course it all comes back to food in Italy! In my life, I equate slow living with mindfulness and I started really embracing this actively in 2019. However, in practice the first few years of my youngest child’s life (2011-2014) were when I first consciously stopped myself and said, “Pay attention. This won’t last and you must be here for it.” Things sped up again for awhile, but I am back to the practice of trying to think before making plans, noticing what is happening and what I’m feeling, and above all, working on being content right where I am.
I love that, Katy! I really do think motherhood is the perfect introduction to slow living because it does force you to be as present as possible, especially those first few years. I’m so glad you’re finding the slow again in your life, it’s truly a remarkable practice to follow! Thank you for sharing your journey :)