December 2015

I spent a few weeks working in Sicily this past summer and was struck by how healthy Italian living feels with its slower pace and relaxed lifestyle. Italians approach life much differently than we do. They’re less concerned with how quickly they can get through a meal, instead savoring each bite with relish. Sure, fast food is making inroads there, but most Italians love food too much to succumb to the siren song of junk food.

I am not a big fan of clutter or accumulating what we don’t need so the rule in our house goes like this: “Have you use this in six months?” If the answer is no, then we let whatever ‘this’ is go—to a charity, a shelter or a relative. We let go and do good.

I grew up in a wild and crazy Italian and Irish family who seemed to compete for who could yell the loudest or be the most dramatic. We were all about family, food and celebrating. Never was this more evident than during the Christmas season. My mother began baking dozens of varieties of Christmas cookies the day after Thanksgiving. The decorative tins piled higher and higher on our breakfront as the days of Advent wore on. She baked, decorated, shopped, hosted every family dinner and was completely expert at all of it. She loved drama and the holiday season gave her plenty of it.

There’s an old Chinese saying: “May you live in interesting times.” Never has that been truer. With political upheaval, fundamental extremism, violence at every turn, hatred and division, climate change that can no longer be ignored, we have all chosen to live in interesting times.

Is there really anything to celebrate at this magical time of year?

You can be sure there is. Each and every one of us has the power to change the world, beginning with ourselves and letting that change vibrate through our families, communities, cities, countries and the world.