Designing Your Next Chapter Intentionally (in Italy)

With things heating up in the U.S. and in the Middle East, a lot of people are considering jumping ship and relocating to other countries.

While I can't blame them, I am very passionate about one piece of advice I give all my clients:

You should choose to move abroad, not because you're running away from something, but because you're running toward something.

So while you might want to hit the Eject button from the madness in America right now, I really encourage you to consider what you're running toward.

My "Why" for Moving to Italy

So why did I move to Italy?

In my European travels over the years, I fell in love with the slower cadence of life. It seemed like everyone had time to sit at an outdoor cafe with a coffee or Spritz.

But when I'd return from my trips, I was always dismayed at how life was anything but leisurely. It was difficult to plan an evening out with friends, and everyone was always in such a hurry.

I craved that slower, softer life.

I yearned for a society that put more focus on living rather than working 80 hours a week. One that focused on relationships, not purchases.

Being Intentional with the Decision

Today, I was speaking with my clients, Kip and Chris. They moved here from Oakland, where car culture had become unbearable. Their "why" was that they wanted to live where they could walk everywhere. And they do.

When you think about living in Italy, I invite you to imagine what life will be like. What's important to you? What do you want your life to be?

Maybe you, like me, want a quieter, more deliberate life. Maybe you're looking for your tribe. Perhaps you're looking to reinvent yourself after your children fly the nest or you reach retirement.

Here's an exercise I recommend to my clients: sit down with a notebook or journal and describe what a typical day in your new Italian life might look like.

It doesn't need to be glamorous...in fact, the more mundane (and realistic) it is, the better! Living in Italy is very different from visiting here on vacation, and you need to be able to imagine what a "dull" life in Italy might be like!

I recently found my written "day in the life" document, and I was surprised at how very much like my life it was! I wrote about how I woke up and leisurely enjoyed a cappuccino (check). Then I went for a walk by the sea with my love (check...and this was before I met Francesco!). A little work, then a long lunch, followed by a nap (check and check and check!).

My point here is: you have the power to carve out the exact life you want here in Italy. The better you can see this life, the easier it will be to realize it.

I know things are tumultuous in the U.S. If Italy is the right move for you, be intentional in why and how you want to live here.