“We all know that no matter what we do in life, somebody will always hate us.” – Maya Angelou
Our lives have only a certain number of productive years left to us. There comes a time in every adult’s life when there will come a time to change direction and look toward the next phase of their life.
I think that time came for me recently. I was traveling in California when I finally got around to thinking about it and figured it’s just a matter of time before I do it. After doing a lot of introspection and gathering of facts and figures, the reality of it came clear.
I love being in the United States, I love the opportunities here, the place I am. On the one hand, I’ve never felt more positive than I do today. On the other hand, the grind of day to day living means I am exhausted from it all.
My question to you today is a simple one. How will you spend the last moments of your life? Is it more important to have a peaceful, happy retirement or do you just want to have some new adventures?
If that is the question that is on your mind, you have an opportunity to fulfill your dream of travelling the world while having a wealth of meaningful experiences along the way.
Italy is a great place to start with. It is a fantastic country to explore with its beautiful vistas, cool climate, and less cluttered city streets.
If you spend a week or two there you will find that your life will change in every way. You will discover new neighborhoods to explore, sights to see, delicious places to eat, and even cat cafes!
The United States has become a boring country to live in with a manic everyday schedule. Italy, on the other hand, has such a relaxed attitude that it is great for relaxation and relaxation doesn’t cost a cent!
When I first told the friends and family who have been very supportive that I wanted to live in Italy I got mixed reactions. I mean, this is a country, after all, that is “somehow seen as undesirable” by many.
I knew that they would say that was wrong. I also knew that I was ambitious enough to make it work.
I was born in the United States and I believe that every country I had visited before Italy had been extraordinary to me. I have visited France, Spain, and England and I can honestly say that they were all amazing places to see and explore.
From the vineyards of Provence to the cat cafes of Rome, I found them to be the most spectacular places to see and experience. The people were delightful and the environment was relaxed and welcoming.
I was always told that Italy was “more like Paris” than Europe. When I came back I brought many photos of cities that I loved so much during my time in Paris to the Italian town where I currently live.
They were all received with great enthusiasm from the people I have come to know during my year in Italy and from the people of my town. One thing that always impressed me most was that the locals only saw life through a prism of respect, decency, and hospitality.
Once I discovered this, it prompted me to seek out Italy and I have been truly enjoying my adventures since then.
This is why I am so adamant about making a change to my life now and starting a new chapter of my life in Italy.
You don’t have to change your entire way of life for the better. What I do know is that if you do something for the first time you are more apt to always want to give it a second chance.
There is a much deeper satisfaction from just having the courage to try something you might not have thought of or wouldn’t have thought to do in the past. I promise you that the return on this change will not only be worth it but, on top of that, you will feel blessed beyond measure.
Do I know for sure that I’m doing the right thing? No. Will I be sure that I will be successful? No.
But I can promise you this: I will not regret having made this decision.