For those of you who have read/watched “Eat Pray Love” the phrase "la dolce far niente" might ring a bell. This Italian saying translates to "the sweetness of doing nothing" and is a line by which Italians base their lives off of. In many places in Europe the concept of a "siesta" is highly respected and enacted in native's daily lives. In Italy, from the hours of 2-5 PM most locals go home for lunch, a nap and maybe a roll in the sheets. Stores close, businesses shut their doors, and for a few hours time stands still. The hustle and bustle of working life takes a break and resumes after rest and replenishment.
One of my favorite scenes of “Eat Pray Love” is when American, Liz Gilbert, who is temporarily living abroad in Italy has a conversation in a barber sharp with a few of the local men. As she relaxes, eating her candy, she remarks on how simplistic and underwhelming her afternoon activities and time spent in Rome have been thus far. Hinting at a tinge of guilt she feels for simply doing nothing. To which one of the men, mid-shave, replies, “Americans, you work too hard, you get burned out. But you don’t know pleasure, you have to be told that you’ve earned it. An Italian walks by a sign that says, ‘You deserve a break today’ and he says, ‘Ya, I know!’” This is when another shop patron interrupts by saying, "We call it, la dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing.” A line that catches not only Liz’s attention but the audience’s too. You are left to reflect on the quality of American life. Always moving, doing, trying to get to the top, do better, more, win. But are we happier for doing so? For spending the extra hours working late into the night? For favoring the satisfaction of a business deal over the ease of relaxation? I'd say we aren't. I'd say we are far more stressed and far less able to enjoy the little things and be in the moment.
Italians, may be crazy in their own ways, what with their swearing, hectic driving and constant sense of chaos, but in retrospect they are more relaxed. They take time for themselves out of each and every day to reflect, be with family, nourish their bodies and souls. Although in recent years, there has been talk of putting an end to the siesta, seeing as it makes for a less productive business day, therefore negatively affecting the economy, I believe that somewhere in the middle we can reach a common ground. I'm not suggesting that a mandatory three-hour lunch break should be enacted within the U.S. but maybe we can learn from this. We should at least take the normal hourly allotted time to actually unplug, eat and enjoy the company of those around us. Weekends should be spent relaxing, detached from work related responsibilities. A time to focus on family and FUN, and the pleasure of having nothing to do.
Having recently returned from a relaxing two-week vacation in Europe, half of which was spent in Italy, I guess this idea is fresh on my mind. Maybe a bit idealistic, but something worth acknowledging. I've always been the type of person who will go into a downward spiral if I am over-booked or over-worked. I need my down time. I believe we all do. In today's society getting to the top and individualistic success is favored above all else. We are losing sight of the simple pleasures that daily life has to offer.
Let’s strive for more being and less doing.
