{"id":1902,"date":"2011-07-28T06:18:19","date_gmt":"2011-07-28T10:18:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lifewithhappiness.com\/?p=1902"},"modified":"2018-10-03T16:01:40","modified_gmt":"2018-10-03T20:01:40","slug":"14-life-lessons-from-a-trip-to-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/2011\/07\/14-life-lessons-from-a-trip-to-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Life Lessons from a Trip to Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"
In May I spent 10 days in Italy with my wife, daughter, son-in-law, and eight-month-old grandson. While we did some touristy things (e.g. you simply cannot visit Florence and NOT see the David!), we also immersed ourselves in the culture.
\nWe never set foot in a hotel or gift shop. <\/strong>Instead, we slept in residential neighborhoods in old convent rooms now run as B&Bs by the nuns, or in an apartment within a medieval-era walled city with a commanding view of olive orchards and vineyards.
\nImmersion in a foreign culture refreshes the way I view the world.<\/strong> First, the “different-ness” of life in another country or region opens up new awareness; then, my newly expanded lens causes me to review habits and beliefs that were previously “invisible” to me.
\nThrough the lens of learning, I share with you my most powerful life lessons<\/strong> from Italy:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\nJust like in real life, the pleasure\u2019s as much in the journey as the destination. <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n
\nThere\u2019s nothing wrong with letting the pendulum swing far in one direction<\/em><\/strong>, as long as you ride the swing back in the other direction to keep yourself centered.\u00a0 To balance our doubling of food, we walked EVERYWHERE!<\/li>\n
\nTake a fresh look at what is right under your nose and you may be pleasantly surprised<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em> I\u2019m now paying more attention to the Locavore movement, which is all about reconnecting with the great quality of foods and opportunities nearby.<\/li>\n
\nHappiness is like that \u2013 if you don\u2019t know what you seek, it\u2019s impossible to find<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Seek clarity, and you\u2019ll soon realize it\u2019s right in front of you.<\/li>\n
\nWhen you work on how YOU see the world,<\/em><\/strong> you will create more positive change than when you spend all your time worrying about your \u201cimage\u201d with others.<\/li>\n
\nWe have a responsibility to understand history and use it in two ways<\/em><\/strong>: as a jumping off point to build a better future AND for lessons on what NOT to repeat!<\/li>\n
\nAs the saying goes, \u201chow do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time;\u201d<\/em><\/strong> any big undertaking becomes easier when tackled just one step at a time.<\/li>\n
\nTake a moment to breathe.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n
\nIn life, we often assume that we\u2019re on our own because we buy the \u201cstory\u201d that the world is an uncaring and dangerous place.<\/em><\/strong> That\u2019s an image created by the media to sell newspapers, cable news, and reality shows.\u00a0 In the Real World, 98% of the people you ask will return a smile with a smile, and help you on your way.<\/li>\n
\nLet go of your \u201cshoulds\u201d and instead be curious about what is.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n