11/13/2024
5 Things I Learned In Italy
(Through The Eyes Of A Therapist)
✨ 1. Italians 🇮🇹 express their emotions openly, without shame.
While travelling in Italy, 🇮🇹 we were privileged to have several locals share with us their painful stories💔 of losing loved ones, divorce and family conflict.
They were not embarrassed to share their true feelings or shed a tear. 😢
✨ 2. Italians 🇮🇹 work to live.
They choose to enjoy life and the simple things that life brings, from meals with the family to outings in nature 🍃 or a football 🏈 game with friends.
Mealtime is taken seriously; sitting down with a complete meal and a significant break in the middle of the day for lunch.
Dinner is eaten late in the evening, usually joined by family or friends. People don’t tend to just grab a bite while walking or sitting in their car.
✨ 3. Diet culture in Italy…. Is not a thing.
While an active lifestyle, (walking running and biking) 🚴 is the norm, so are gelato shops, 🍨 bakeries, cafes ☕️ and pizzerias. 🍕
Treats are sold on every block, and are enjoyed throughout the day, while portion size is small. There are no small, medium, large options for gelato, the choices are small cup or small cone.🍦
✨4. Italians 🇮🇹 carry tremendous pride in their lineage and the professions they work in.
We were privy to several fascinating stories of Italian 🇮🇹 families who could trace their lineage back to the second century BC.
We were also warmly invited by restaurant owners, sculptors, clothing designers, jewelers and small independent shop owners to come into their work spaces and learn about their trades.
✨ 5. Most importantly, family and the well-being of loved 🥰 ones are the strongest values of all.
It is not uncommon for extended families in Italy 🇮🇹 to share a large weekly or monthly meal where they can catch up and connect.
Aperetivo, the pre-dinner drink🍹hour, is a cultural ritual where Italians 🇮🇹go out for a drink and light snack between work and dinner.
It is a beautiful time when families and friends unwind from the day and socialize before going home for the evening.❤️
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