The quandary for Centuries for Italian Americans, and Italians has been the Choice between Career and Family/Friends !!!!! 
Does one spend hideous hours in the Workplace to acquire more MONETARY gain, more MATERIAL "things", more POWER, etc, OR spend reasonable hours at work, so that one can be assured to spend appropriate time with Family and Friends. 
What is the Meaning of Life? "Things" or "People"?

Examiner.com
Debbie Gissonni
May 13, 2009 

If you've ever spent time in Italy and wondered why life seems perfect there, you're not alone. What is it about the Italian lifestyle that feels so good and how can you duplicate it here in the U.S.? As evident in movies such as "Under the Tuscan Sun", of course there's a lot of eating, drinking wine and flirting, but it's more than just that. In a recent interview, Examiner.com Italian living expert, Serenella Leoni, helps unlock the secret to health and happiness...Italian style.

Here are Serenella's top characteristics of Italian life.

1. Fresh, healthy food 
To the Italians, food is life and as such, they honor it using the freshest ingredients. All the senses are evoked during purchasing, growing, preparing or eating food. Every meal is to be enjoyed to the fullest. There?s an old Italian proverb: A tavola non s'invecchi mai. It means you never grow old at the table.

2. Passion for life
Whether it's cooking, painting or working, the Italian approach is to be present and attentive throughout the entire process. Here again, using all of the senses in order to squeeze out every bit of pleasure. And nothing is ever rushed. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day! 

3. Life-long curiosity 
Italians' innate curiosity keeps life fresh. They continue to seek answers and learn new things. This trait is evident in all the discoveries and inventions from Italians such as Columbus, Marconi, Da Vinci and Zamboni to name a few.

4. Family ties and traditions
The social connection of family, friends and traditions gives meaning to life in a celebratory way. It gives Italians a reason to stop work and pay attention to people, play and fun. Sharing their life with others equates to love.

5. Resilience and strength
Italy's history of natural disasters, war, invasion, political corruption and Vatican influence serves as a poignant reminder to live life to the fullest and to move on after setbacks. It?s all considered part of the cycle of life.

6. Simplicity
Italians place more value on the simple things in life (family, community, enjoying a Tuscan sunset) rather than the material things most westerners covet. There are plenty of happy farmers in Italy who want no more than to share a meal with others in their community.
You can re-create a bit of the Italian lifestyle right here in the U.S. by adopting some of the characteristics from list above. Make a conscious effort to slow down whether that's eating or driving. Savor every moment in life and notice it with all your senses. Spend less time wanting and more time giving. Reach out to your community and get to know people. And of course, cook at least one healthy meal from scratch every week for your family and/or friends. And then take the time to enjoy it with a nice bottle of Chianti!

Serenella Leoni is a native Tuscan living in California. Her company, Toscana Mia, creates custom designed, hand crafted Italian vacations. To learn more about Italian living, visit Serenella's Examiner.com columns. 

http://www.examiner.com/x-5079-SF-Health-and-Happiness-Examiner~y2009
m5d13-Why-is-the-Italian-lifestyle-so-good-for-you-and-how-can-you-duplicate-it
 

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