inspiration

toasting you from Rome

“She decided to start living the life she’d imagined”

-Kobi Yamada

Well, sort of: there are still a few things missing. The life I envision includes living full time in Italy, having enough time and money to explore and write without working at other jobs, and having someone to share my life with. Currently, work gets in the way of exploring, writing and enjoying life to the max. But at least I'm in Italy part of the year, so non devo lamentare (I shouldn't complain). And dreams can and do become reality, so hold that thought!

The Power of Focused Thought

One of the things I’ve loved about my work as a personal coach and teacher is helping people understand the importance of our thoughts. I’ve been amazed by the events that have taken place in my life over the past few years, and feel I can attribute much of it to the fact that I have become more focused on thinking about what I want, and I am acting on opportunities that come up in relation to those thoughts. I’ve been blessed with a life that gives me time to think, and I make good use of it. In this way, I can stay truer to being guided by my heart.

But along with new opportunities that have come my way, I’m noticing that I have less time to think about what I WANT to think about. I’m making more money teaching other people’s ideas instead of my own, and though this provides me with the means to travel more, it interferes with the thinking time that helps me create future opportunities. Still, even in the midst of everything, synchronicity continues to happen.

I recently found a book at the library that is a continuation of a story I read and loved a decade ago, that takes place in Florence. When I read the first book, Italy was an unknown world to me. Now it is a familiar presence, and this new book reminds me of many places that I visited just weeks ago…so much that it’s almost like being there again.

I need to remember that even in the midst of life’s busyness, it is essential to take time and stay focused on thinking about the things that matter most: staying true to ourselves, our beliefs and our integrity. We should also think about our relationships and love; about happiness, joy, and good health; about making the most of our talents; about creating peace in our world. We need to take time to imagine a future filled with these things. We must be the first to believe that our dreams can become reality, and it starts with our thoughts. It’s that simple.

Magic

A parting thought: life can be magical
when we let go of daily habits and fears
and reach for the stars.

Let the magic begin!

Carpe Diem!

Positano, 2009

Il tempo non aspetta nessuno.

Raccogli ogni momento che ti rimane, perché ha un grande valore.

Time waits for no one. Grasp every minute that remains because it has great value.

Making Dreams Come True: It’s a Process

As I move closer to realizing the dream of spending more time in Italy, I’m contemplating the process and stages of the journey. So often, we have yearnings, including the desire to experience and become more, but how often do we actually act on achieving those things we desire? For too many years, I was content with the dream of living in another culture, until it became quite clear that it would forever remain a dream unless I did something to bring it into reality.

My journey with Italy started just four years ago, and I’ve come a long way in a short time, but it seems I still have far to go. My goal is to know, as best I can, another language and culture…..not just on a superficial level, but all of it…the good, the bad and the ugly. How can I hope to accomplish that objective without living in that culture? I’m often frustrated by the slow but steady progress I’ve made; but I stay with it, and it continues to push me forward.

Fortunately, I’m in excellent health, I have a comfortable income from jobs I can do online while abroad, my mind is sharp and curious, and I have rich connections with my son and many good friends who encourage my journey. I've made good friends with Italians who live in many different regions of Italy: I speak with them often on Skype,and visit them when I'm in Italy. They've contributed a great deal to my knowledge of the Italian language and culture, and have become another kind of family, pulling me closer to Italy every year. These aspects of my life sustain me as I gather the courage to move forward. There are many uncertainties ahead, but I’m willing to risk some comfort and security in order to experience life and the world more fully. I don’t want to regret that I didn’t try when I had the chance to. And as they say, it’s the journey that rewards us, not the outcome.

Coraggio! Stai tranquilla…..tutto andrà bene, vedrai.
Courage! Be calm…all will go well, you’ll see.