Places impact us - choose wisely
Where makes you come alive?
This post is intended to be light and uplifting in a world that seems increasingly mad.
There is still much beauty out there to relish.
So little brain power required on your side - just let yourself feel it and enjoy.
Places have an effect on us energetically - choose wisely
Have you ever noticed that you feel different in different places?
That your locale has an effect on your whole vibe?
I’m just back from Italy and the UK feels very grey (beyond the weather).
It feels sort of depressed and almost in a low level trauma.
There’s the threat of police making a visit if you retweet something let alone write it; we seem to have no political states people anywhere anymore; businesses are struggling; lots of entrepreneurs leaving; it’s expensive and TAXing.
Not sure how we’ve found ourselves here and it certainly doesn’t feel uplifting, creative or expansive. More like survival.
Even writing this makes me drowsy!
You deserve to live somewhere that nourishes, uplifts and enlightens you
Yet isn’t it interesting how it seems easier to stay where you are with what you know?
Like the frogs in warm water that are lulled into a false sense of security?
It feels like it takes a lot of energy to stay awake and dare to question assumptions about where you should be living to make the most of your life now vs sometime when…….
“Some places are so good to your soul, it’s hard to leave them behind” - Unknown
I’m just back from one of these places - the beautiful island of Ischia and it’s baby sister Procida which are just of the coast of Napoli.
Most tourists head off to the Amalphi coast so these islands are a bit of a secret.
Here are some photos just to enjoy and escape into if you will.
Look how colourful and alive these buildings are.
In true Italian style there’s dodgy plastering and electrical wires in weird places.
But it’s vibrant, alive and perfectly imperfect.
It all just makes me smile.
There’s a sense of timelessness and comfort in it all.
Its people are kind, fun, bubbly and pretty chilled for Italians.
They adore it if you try to speak Italian which, in my case, is a stab at morphing Spanish into Italian.
They don’t care because, for them, you’re making an effort and that’s what counts.
Sunshine in a glass - One of the most dangerous drinks on the planet
The size of the lemons is totally bonkers. They’re huge plus weirdly they’re not sour.
From these fab lemons they make Limoncello and then Limoncello Spritz, which is limoncello with prosecco and soda.
Sunshine in a glass.
Extremely drinkable and very dangerous!
Italians keep it all in the family
In Ischia there are lots of wooden structures build over the beaches which are family restaurants with multiple generations working there.
Dad’s in the kitchen, son is at the pizza oven, the daughters doing service with Mama usually overseeing the till.
I love this because it’s personal - they get to recognise you, know you and vice versa.
You aren’t just another number on a financial spreadsheet of some global restaurant chain.
The food is epic too. Fish literally comes straight from the sea into the restaurants.
No middle man. No time delay.
This is from an “ordinary” little Italian place on the beach - all fresh and homemade.
A seemingly weird Italian tradition.
Finally, here’s a weird thing we observed the Italians doing on a Sunday.
They take their small motor boats out of the harbour, then bizarrely anchor nearby and just spend the rest of the day there.
There’s hoards of them not going anywhere or doing anything.
Just bobbing about on the water.
I guess it’s their version of people watching or being seen.
So there’s a little piece of Italian heaven.
I will definitely be returning.
Ischia, in particular, warms my heart and soul.
It’s very beautiful, elegant and timeless.
At the end of the day energy doesn’t lie.
Where you feel most free, most alive, most open - that’s a place speaking your language.
My invitation to you…..
So where springs to mind for you?
Where’s somewhere that nourishes and uplifts your heart and soul just by being there?
Maybe it’s even somewhere new that you feel called to visit even if it doesn’t make sense.
What if you were to start planning your visit today? Why delay?
Especially if it doesn’t make logical sense to your mind!
“The right place doesn’t just hold you - it reflects you too.”
Alison Malee
Have fun with it……Dream a little……Go beyond your “norm”.
What if a great adventure awaits that’ll change you fundamentally?
I’d love to hear some of your ideas of where “your place” is and why.
With love,
Alison