Hi Michael - firstly, I wanted to say Hi! and tell you how cool it is to find another American who moved from California (I think even SF) to Italy. I am German, lived for 14yrs in San Francisco and then moved with my American husband (photographer) to South Tyrol, Italy, 3 hours north of Milan. I love Milan and as you commented in Kirsten Powers's post on ...Saying No to Productivity Culture..... even though Milan is a busy money making city, the Milanese still know how to enjoy life, have several times a day their coffee in a bar and Aperitivo in the evening.
To your posed question "What do you do to really take care of yourself (and those around you)?" - I can say this:
I go daily for an hour walk (or bike ride) in the forest, / I go out for spontaneous Aperitivo with friends in the evening / I nurture friendships as I see them as one of the most important things in life / I think, read and write about Paying Attention - which means for me: 1) to pay attention to your own well-being, 2) taking care of others (loved ones and people around you) and 3) pay attention to the world around you, be aware! (Photography is a great way to pay attention to your surrounding ).
Hi Claudia! My apologies for taking (gulp) almost four months to reply to this. I'm not quite sure where the last four months have gone!
Yes, you're correct; I was in SF/the Bay Area for 17 years before we moved to Milan in October 2022.
I appreciate your self-care tips and will feature them in my 2024 Survival Guide, which I'm finally working on! Wishing you all the best; stay well. -Michael
PS: What type of photography does your husband do? I'm curious!
Thanks for replying :-)). Hey, better late than never. :-)) No worries.
As for my husband's photography: Sports photography (Olmpics, world cups, etc.) but also portraiture of the famous and infamous, reportage, corporate stuff..... these days he loves street photography (here you can get a better sense: mcdfoto.com)
thanks for including some of my self-care tips. I appreciate it.
Yes. All of this feels right and resonates with me too. I think the best way to survive, collectively, is for each of us to find a way to thrive, personally. It’s Mary Oliver all over again: “tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one, wild and precious life.”
As for me, and my noticing and paying attention and caring for myself, I have found it is to write at least one poem each month. I engage differently with the world when I engage through the eyes of a poet. There are no rules to share the poems or follow some form or meter. It’s just to notice, and to put the noticing down on paper (or screen).
I relate to this. Something changed for me in the pandemic when I was living alone and so scared. I just decided I have to live well despite what’s going on around me. I think I realized my being unwell is not helping me fix these broken institutions. I believe it to be a radical act - living well despite all of this ultimately gives you more energy to aid those around you.
Hi Michael - firstly, I wanted to say Hi! and tell you how cool it is to find another American who moved from California (I think even SF) to Italy. I am German, lived for 14yrs in San Francisco and then moved with my American husband (photographer) to South Tyrol, Italy, 3 hours north of Milan. I love Milan and as you commented in Kirsten Powers's post on ...Saying No to Productivity Culture..... even though Milan is a busy money making city, the Milanese still know how to enjoy life, have several times a day their coffee in a bar and Aperitivo in the evening.
To your posed question "What do you do to really take care of yourself (and those around you)?" - I can say this:
I go daily for an hour walk (or bike ride) in the forest, / I go out for spontaneous Aperitivo with friends in the evening / I nurture friendships as I see them as one of the most important things in life / I think, read and write about Paying Attention - which means for me: 1) to pay attention to your own well-being, 2) taking care of others (loved ones and people around you) and 3) pay attention to the world around you, be aware! (Photography is a great way to pay attention to your surrounding ).
Hi Claudia! My apologies for taking (gulp) almost four months to reply to this. I'm not quite sure where the last four months have gone!
Yes, you're correct; I was in SF/the Bay Area for 17 years before we moved to Milan in October 2022.
I appreciate your self-care tips and will feature them in my 2024 Survival Guide, which I'm finally working on! Wishing you all the best; stay well. -Michael
PS: What type of photography does your husband do? I'm curious!
Thanks for replying :-)). Hey, better late than never. :-)) No worries.
As for my husband's photography: Sports photography (Olmpics, world cups, etc.) but also portraiture of the famous and infamous, reportage, corporate stuff..... these days he loves street photography (here you can get a better sense: mcdfoto.com)
thanks for including some of my self-care tips. I appreciate it.
Yes. All of this feels right and resonates with me too. I think the best way to survive, collectively, is for each of us to find a way to thrive, personally. It’s Mary Oliver all over again: “tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one, wild and precious life.”
As for me, and my noticing and paying attention and caring for myself, I have found it is to write at least one poem each month. I engage differently with the world when I engage through the eyes of a poet. There are no rules to share the poems or follow some form or meter. It’s just to notice, and to put the noticing down on paper (or screen).
I relate to this. Something changed for me in the pandemic when I was living alone and so scared. I just decided I have to live well despite what’s going on around me. I think I realized my being unwell is not helping me fix these broken institutions. I believe it to be a radical act - living well despite all of this ultimately gives you more energy to aid those around you.