Our CEO Aubrey has a degree in design—but did you know she minored in Italian?

It’s true! …è vero! Aubrey’s time in Italy helped her realize that we, in the Western culture, could learn a lot of from other cultures—specifically surrounding our living environment and social interactions. It has helped her dive into “Why” the people of Italy are living such bountiful lives. I had the chance to sit down with Aubrey and pour over notes and notes of Italian life that she had collected. It was amazing to learn about Italian culture. The extraordinary part— you also have a chance to learn about Italian lifestyle on a retreat to Italy with Aubrey this April-2024. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to embrace the beauty of Italy and bring home a piece of their culture to inspire. Aubrey has always felt drawn to helping people find their own best way to succeed and thrive. She hopes to encourage you to learn more about embracing the necessities for thriving within our environment while focusing on nurturing our social and home lives.

I asked Aubrey to share her experience in Italy with me, so I could get a better idea of what we can learn from them! It can be tricky to grow our mindset outside of what we think we need verses what we ‘actually’ need. She definitely had some really interesting things to share with me. We are so fortunate to live in a country that values freedoms in many aspects. We do think that’s what makes America such a great place to be— the idea that we can embody the cultural influences of those around us, so that we connect to one another.

I summarized a few things she shared with me about the Italian way of life and hope it piques your interest!

1. Italians really value quality of life—over convenience.

   We know that they have the highest quality of ingredients in their food (we can TASTE it), but aside from that they tend to lean into higher quality in many aspects of their life. They simplify by having fewer items in their kitchen for example—when we as Americans tend to lean into being invested in a variety of kitchen gadgets because of convenience. Circling back to quality in food, for example, when you need to make something but are in need of “cutting corners” to save on time in Italy, you can usually find higher quality items incorporated in those conveniences. If we need to make “stock” for a base in a dinner dish, we might just buy the “stock” in a box or can in Western culture. It’s easier right? In Italy, they would have pre-made “stock kits” in the store with ingredients that were bundled with the needed items. Fresh herbs and veggies, for example, that could be quickly used and put in a pot to make your own stock. Their dishes have mounds of flavor which result in a higher quality palette, but with fewer items. Even their architecture is made of materials that are long lasting quality—like rock foundations that have been around for hundreds of years. Their definition of conveniences don’t cut out quality, but instead embrace it. These are just some examples. There is a whole world to be explored in Italy when it comes to quality!

2. Speaking of architecture—they have definitely figured out the key to allowing more sunshine into their lives, unique details to their designs, and finding value in long lasting materials. Let’s talk about windows first! Windows are an essential part of our lives. We see the world through them, we protect ourselves inside from behind them. They allow sunlight to shine in and allow us access to the world. Italians can connect to each other through their windows. If you recall back in 2020 there were videos of Italians singing during lock-down when the pandemic had prevented them from gathering. Because of their closer living quarters in Italy (many Italians live in apartments) they were able to see one another through windows and hear one another. They were able to close off the world with shutters—something Western culture has stopped using for purpose and are mostly decorative. Windows in Italy don’t have screens and it creates a direct connection with the outside. Arched windows create a beautiful passage and also, arched doorways, do the same. Arches in general have a beauty element. They draw your eye towards the sky and are softer to the eyes. Houses are often made of stone, brick, or cement, and there is not really any heating or air-conditioning. It seems that this is mostly because Italians spends less downtime at home, and travel nearly everywhere daily, to get what they need, which does involve a lot of walking. There is some variety in Italian architecture. In the cities we see tall and narrow buildings. However, even in the city there are beautiful courtyards. In the country we see slightly bigger villas—spaces with open places for gathering, vineyards and gardens, and rolling hills. Tuscany is an example of a place where we can embrace the beautiful Italian countryside. If you decide to join Aubrey for her retreat—you will personally get to immerse yourself in Tuscan culture and breath-taking beauty. Italy is earthy, natural, cozy, yet detailed. A combination that creates charming vignettes and romantic atmospheres.

3.) The ‘Gather vs Rest’ cycle and Social Nurturing—

People of Italy love their social circles. They gather together daily. Whether it is a planned gathering or just saying hello to their neighbors and friends on their way into the city for work, they value the human connection that we so need. Italians naturally get more exercise than us—it is built into the way they live. It takes longer to get places, they have to walk through streets and up stairs more than we do, having big cars and big houses are not desired like they are in the States. Think about how driving everywhere isolates us—-verses getting fresh air and saying hello every single day to people you know. It creates connection. Relationships. Empathy. We tend to be more reserved and self destructive when we don’t get the social interactions we deserve. Their days are not always structured in the typical ‘9-5’ workdays we are accustomed to. Western culture has evolved to a place of unpredictable, fast paced, living and Mediterranean culture is generally healthier, slower, and full of rest. For example, Italians incorporate a daily rest period. “Risposa” or extended mid-day break which includes “siesta”, a nap or rest. If you aren’t lucky enough to catch lunch before 2:30, you might have to wait until dinner! They will close up their shops to rest. In the US lunch breaks are often only 30 minutes, not nearly long enough, in our opinion. (Wink.) This perception that it’s “now or never”, keeps us from (very plainly and simply) looking at what’s in front of us and recognizing its value. While this could be a category of its own, Italians really value simplicity. There is a lot of grounding and connection in their culture. This for us, is surely lost in a fast, FOMO-driven culture.

Did this interest you?!

These few ideas are just a “tasting” of what can be learned on this really special retreat to Tuscany! Aubrey’s ability to communicate effectively, identify beauty in all things, and passion for helping others is a special and unique treat that only a select few will get to experience on this trip. Even if applying a few of these thoughtful ideas to your life seems far-fetched, it’s not. Adding just a few things at a time to your daily life that helps you get the results you so greatly need in your life, is worth the effort. Joining Aubrey in Tuscany will give you a fully immersive experience to taste the sweetness of Italy and to learn how savoring each moment of life can be beneficial for your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Some added perks of this retreat: An authentic Italian cooking class and a flower arranging class! When someone asks you how you got so great at cooking—-remind them you learned in Italy! (wink.) We all can learn from each other’s cultures and begin to incorporate mindful things into our daily routine.

Bon voyage! Ciao!

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Nice to meet you! Hope to see you again soon.

For more information ‘open’ the door below.