What I think about the USA after a month in Italy 🇮🇹

The slower pace of life is so apparent in Italy and maybe we could learn something from it as Americans, I sure did. Hope you enjoy a peek at life in Italy with my kids and husband. 🌞

"The solution to an over-busy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters.” - John Mark Comer

The Wholehearted Podcast 🎙️

If you're new here, welcome! I'm Madi, creating videos about minimalism and slow living every Tuesday or Wednesday. In my videos you will see my minimalist home, my capsule wardrobe, decluttering, inspiration for slow living with kids, intentional living, minimalist finances, things I no longer buy, things I no longer own, things I buy more of as a minimalist, and just overall my passion and inspiration for simple living!

#slowliving #slowfood #italytravel

What I think about the USA after a month in Italy 🇮🇹

Chapters:
00:00 America vs Italy
04:30 Lesson 1 | Embrace Limitations
05:56 Lesson 2 | Remove Optional Technology
06:43 Lesson 3 | Create Daily Rhythms of Rest
07:49 Lesson 4 | Make it Easier to Go Without

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product with the links that I provide, I may receive a small commission. However, there is no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support!

[albertobenelli]

I am italian, i actually live in Italy (in Prato Tuscany, next to Firenze) and man....this video almost made me cry and "miss" Italy . That is how much i love living here . Yes surely some of us will comment here that "in big cities life is different" but that is the case everywhere . But you really cathed the core, the essence of the true LUXURY of living here as opposed to US and that is VALUE OVER VOLUME . A real Italian knows that . Sure there will be cases where some us might be strongly influenced by US "consume" and "pile up" culture, but the "core" of this country remains that of QUALITY over QUANTITY . I do have lots of friends from US and some italian friends who live there now, and even though i love US, i consider myself as extremely lucky to be living here instead . The reasons (some of them) are the ones you beautifully catched . Brava Madisun .

[italianfoodmadefromthehear]

I can't believe I found this video. I lived in Southern Germany when I was in my young 20s for a total of 3 yrs. I loved life in Europe, almost stayed there. 25 years later I marry a Italian lady, we have taken long trips throughout Italy, and I have come to the same findings you have. Life in the US has become very toxic and life is to short, so I am selling my house in Houston and will move permanently to Italy.

[davebanko]

I'm an American who moved to the UK in 2006 and now moving to Italy having bought a house in Puglia. I appreciate and adopted the work/life balance, slow pace and quality over quantity lifestyle.

[ControCultura-]

I'm italian and this video made me smile. Times are changing, especially in the north we're working a lot, always in a rush.
Italy is very different between different regions. But when it comes to food, when you sit at the table, sharing a good meal with your friends or family, we all unite as italians. We like to keep it simple. A plate of pasta, some good wine. Maybe we speak different dialects, eat different food, but food always brings us together from north to south, and we're very proud of it

[malloryanthony]

I remember when my co-worker came back
from visiting Italy and raved about it. She paused for a moment as to find the words to sum it up and then said what was so refreshing is that it was "people centred and not things centered"

[alessandra]

I'm Italian and yes, in some more rural and typical places everything is as you described, but if you go to big cities, especially in the North, we are closer to the US than you can think 😅 but fortunately our love for sharing food, slow living and enjoying simple things is something we are very proud of

[Dave]

I write as a German who has lived many years in italy.
Italy like the united states is very different from north to south
Northern Italy is much more industrialized and this typical Italian way of living life is getting a little lost.
In the south, on the other hand, the people are much more hospitable and the climate and villages are fantastic.( among the most beautiful in the world)
If you know where to go southern Italy will surprise you a lot.
I vote for a slower life full of small happiness as Italians know how to do :)

[marcoviola]

honestly, this video is about Italian life from the perspective of a turist. I'm Italian and I live in Liguria: trust me, you can't take the Cinque Terre as a good example of "Italian life style". Real life anywhere else is way more chaotic, especially if you have to work for your daily bread! :D

[MichelleBlessing]

I'm Irish I moved here 6 years ago and I will never leave ❤

[md.walidhasan]

I travelled Italy for 12 days from Germany and I really loved and liked it. Their people are generous and friendly to strangers. Food, culture, weather, nature, work, people, everything still catch my heart. May Allah bless Italy and its people. From Bangladesh.

[chrisgreco]

I visited Italy in 2004 when my son was going to college there. It was August when many people in the EU take their annual 3 week summer vacations. Many go to Italy, so it was crowded. Even so, life was good. I would go back in a heartbeat, even in August.
The Italian people are very social and gregarious by nature. Everywhere my son and I went the towns and cities were busy, people out everywhere walking, socializing, shopping, dining al fresco.
Eating out in Italy is an art form of daily life. No matter the cost, the simplicity, or the extravagance of the ristorante all food in Italy is prepared with great care and attention to every detail. And there is never any rush. The food in Italy is superb everywhere. Travel an hour, or two in any direction and the cuisine changes, but the quality remains consistently extraordinary.
Lastly, even though Italy is populated the Italian countryside is incredibly beautiful. The Dolomite mountains reminded me of the Rockies in MT, where I lived at the time.
And then there's Venice. What a unique and remarkable place. No cars - anywhere. People walk, or take water taxies. The architecture is incredible. Beautiful churches and art museums full of the masterworks works of Italian artists going back centuries.

[jimtalbott]

I spent six and a half years working for a large company and traveled to Italy and the Italians would come to the U.S.
All the videos I watch are people being in or describing the tourist side of Italy.
I spent time in the north around Milan and a town called Biella which those areas are big in manufacturing.
The common Italian doesn’t live as you present, they work hard for low pay and they’re day doesn’t stop for two hours and they don’t meander into work.
They love the U.S. when they are here, at least all I worked with did.
The food is GREAT! and they taught my wife how to cook real Italian and learned while I was there that the Italian food here is not Italian.

[laurierobinson]

I had breast cancer back in 2015-16 and often get asked what I learned from it or what has changed. I always say it taught me to slow down and notice the small things. I'm so glad you figured this out at a young age!

[armedmariner]

In mid 80’s I spent 7 weeks teaching Italian engineers on statistical process control for our company. One young engineer asked me if I wanted to rent his grampa’s barn apartment. Hell yes! What I didn’t realize immediately was that meant I would join the family! Dinner together every night! Drinks after with a smoke. And lots of smiles and fast talking and use of hands! Haha. I slowly started to pick up phrases. But alas that 7 weeks FLEW BY far too quickly. I would love to get that back and experience it again. Exactly as it was. I love real Italians.

[Sir_Jck]

Ok.

As Americans we have been on the top on the world for like 2 centuries.
Italians have been there for like a millennia and then retired.
When I go there I get this feeling that nothing really matters so you might as well enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Being there I got the same feeling I got by hanging out with my grandma.
Yeah, life is hard, it sucks at times. But have a cup of coffee, let’s chat. It’s such a beautiful day…

[sabine]

I'm French and I live in America. I live a slow, minimalist life style. I live in a tiny home, and I have a small basket that I shop with so I just buy what I need. I walk a lot, I love living simply and so connected to nature. It feels my soul so deeply. I don't need all the stress of the fast, more is more life. To me Less is more, and it feels very abundant. Thank you so much for this beautiful video, I wish it was longer, it was so refreshing And I do take naps, it's essential 😍

[kelseycostello]

I have never written a complaint online before but.. I wish your videos were like 2 hours long 😂 these are by far better than anything out in theaters! Loved this one very inspiring and thought provoking as per usual 💕

[Italiana]

My Grandfather was born in Italy, then emigrated to England. I was born in England, and returned to Italy for good upon retirement.
Having lived in Italy now for 9 years, it’s taught me to be far less materialistic and stressy all the time. I would never go back to my old life, and love the fact that food is local, plentiful, simple and fresh.

[dougowt]

Having lived most of my life in the UK, I had a similar experience to your family. In 2017 I moved to Italy and lived on a farm, on the Adriatic coast. I learnt from my amazing Italian neighbours, that a slower pace of life with less gadgets, spending time with friends and family, enjoying simple but very tasty food was definitely a much higher quality of life to the life I had been used to in the UK. I was treated like family, we had lunch together most days, lunch was usually 2½ to 3 hours. They told me to just go and pick whatever fruit and veg I wanted and would bring me a crate of freshly picked produce every other day anyway. I tried to help them as often as I could and if they saw me working outside they would come and help, even though they had an entire farm to manage! I probably enjoyed olive picking most of all, we would have a team of 10 or 12 of us, we would start at 07:30 have a break in the olive grove at 09:30 for food and drink for 20 minutes. Lunch was 12:30 to 14:30 and if we were still working a break for food at 17:30-18:00. Once all the olives were picked and sorted, we would drive the olives to the processors that evening, as timing is important. We did 5 groves over a two month period and they also helped me with the 50 odd olive trees by the house I was staying in. I got paid 15 litres of the best olive oil for my efforts. Life does not get any better than this 💚🤍❤

[Goddessattractor]

This is SO SPOT ON! I spent the first part of this year in Naples. Coming back to America I felt the stark contrast in a way I never have before. I found myself jealous of the sincerity and intention in which they live life. The food was alive. When did our food become so toxic and void of life 😢 it's no wonder big pharma has become a mainstay and the norm. Our ways are making us sick, lonely and disconnected. It made me feel as if we live a gluttonous and extreme lifestyle. America is great and I love my country but I think we could turn the boat towards more of a European way of life and consumption ❤