


Alan Groh
Jun 3, 2022
Italy
Categories:
Travel, Lifestyle, Food, Fitness
During a visit last year, my Uncle reminded me that he was wrestling with a decision to sell his house in Italy. He was getting older, and his trips overseas to visit were getting shorter and further apart. I, of course, interjected with a resounding "I'll take it."
A few months later, as I was researching dual citizenship versus Italian visas - I realized this was an opportunity I couldn't miss. I'd been to Italy before, but I didn't speak much Italian, and I was clueless about living life in a small southern village in the hills of Conflenti in the province of Calabria.
Researching living abroad and visiting Italy changed my perspective on many things, most notably health and wellness, fitness, and priorities. Italians live longer and healthier lives than Americans, but what's their secret? Here's what I learned from my visits to Italy and my Italian family.
Food: On my last visit to Italy, I noticed that our meals were always fresh and seasonal (and served in much smaller portions!). Restaurants structured their menus around what was in season, whether it was zucchini, pumpkin, or asparagus. If it isn't in season, markets weren't carrying it in Italy. But overall, produce was significantly fresher and less expensive than in the States.
The Italian relationship with food is also much different – food isn't something to be eaten on the run. There are no takeout options, and I don't think I saw a person order their coffee-to-go. Dinner would last for hours – once you sat down at a table, it was yours for the night. In the village I stayed, food wasn't clean or dirty, good or bad; it was just something to be enjoyed and, most importantly, shared.
Exercise: Italians are not nearly as fitness obsessed as Americans. (Gyms and studios were scarce.) Rarely will you see Italians running or jogging for exercise. Athletic leisure wear certainly wasn't a thing – in fact, everyone always looked nice. Only Americans wore sweats in public!
However, everyone seemed healthy and happy – especially the elderly population. By 2040, it is forecast that Italians will outlive Americans by 4.7 years, ranking in the top ten countries worldwide for life expectancy. I saw men and women 70+ years of age riding their bikes into town, gardening, and carrying their groceries home. (Wearing suits, no less! It was so charming.)
Staying at my Uncle's home in the small town of Conflenti, I always walked and rode a bike. He lives a mile from the town center, so I'd walk to and from it almost every day. I was quickly walking ten miles a week without really thinking about it. I learned why most Italians in the village wore tennis shoes – they walked everywhere! I wasn't dependent on my car, one of the things I miss most about Italy now that I'm back in the States.
I believe that it isn't that the Italians didn't care about physical fitness; they didn't seem to obsess about it. No one is rushing off to cram in a workout – they stay active in different ways and on their terms.
Priorities: I have always been a busy person in the States – I found it hard to transition to my first week in Italy. I now know that Italians are hardworking, but you could tell they work to live; they don't live to work. Each morning, the square town would be packed (especially on market day). People gathered at cafes for a morning coffee and croissant, lingering for hours.
It was a stark contrast to the coffeehouse experiences I am used to – there were no headphones, laptops, or books. People were there to socialize and enjoy each other's company. Coffee often turned into mid-morning drinks (wine was acceptable any time after 10:00) before everyone dispersed for riposo, the Italian siesta.
I did get used to the slower pace – I didn't have to get to the store that minute. One of the most popular Italian phrases I heard was domani, which means tomorrow. In Italy, almost everything can wait until tomorrow.
The Italian sense of community and the importance of family were contagious. I truly valued the time we could spend together and with new friends and family. For the first time in my life, I also prioritized my mental health. Some days, meeting my new friends for coffee was more beneficial to me than getting to yoga class.
Visiting and researching Italy has helped me reprioritize. I feel I have a much healthier relationship with food, exercise, and stress. When I think about living abroad, it reinforces that I can feel my body in a healthy way and stay physically fit without sacrificing fantastic food and company. It helps me slow down and savor every moment in a way that I haven't been doing.
So, try and live like an Italian – slow down, and enjoy that cup of coffee. Stay active because you want to and enjoy doing so, not because you feel like you have to. Invite your friends along and linger longer over dinner. You never know; it just might help you live longer.
Photo by Pablo Merchan Montes on Unsplash.
Source:
Source:

Catalog #:
0522.102.01.060222