They say that low expectations are the key to happiness – and there is some truth to that. While I didn’t have low expectations for Italy, I tried to keep them realistic. As is the case when traveling, we encountered inconveniences, setbacks, and even some scary moments during those two weeks, but keeping perspective and flexibility helped us laugh about them, if only in retrospect.
It is impossible to travel without creating an impact, and the one I talk about most frequently is carbon footprint. Ecological impacts from travel can be significant, which is why if and when I do visit new places, I want to make sure that my other impacts can be positive ones, such as supporting the local economy and being a good cultural ambassador.
Our choices about transportation options while we were in Italy were influenced largely by cost, convenience, and carbon footprint. While driving added some complexity and stress (navigation, traffic, tickets…) it also enabled some off-the-beaten-path travel that represented some of our richest memories of the trip. This post examines the benefits and drawbacks of various travel modes should you find yourself in Italy.
We were not entirely sure whether we wanted to go to Venice while in Italy, mainly because it is such a touristy city: we would have to contend with throngs of tourists, but we would also be part of the problem. Ultimately we decided to go after better understanding the causes of many of the problems and how we could support the city more sustainably.
After eating many amazing, truffle-filled meals in Italy last fall, Christian decided to get me a truffle for Christmas. Despite the rapid expiration date and mile-high carbon footprint of this tiny fungus, I loved every bite of pasta, pizza, and eggs graced with its presence. I also wanted to know how I could get the flavor without repeating such an expensive and impactful purchase.
Over 100 million Americans made New Year’s resolutions for 2022, and fewer than 10 million actually succeeded in keeping them. I rarely succeed, in spite of (or because of) the fact that I tend to make so many. This year, I hope that examining the “why” behind my resolutions, rather than following my annual pattern from years before, will meet with more success.
Although many families share videos of cats attacking Christmas trees, we have never seen any such behavior from our two. Most of the cat-on-tree action I’ve seen in my life has involved artificial trees, and there are multiple sources that point to why cats may prefer plastic to the real thing. In this Christmas Day post, expect some gratuitous cat photos along with researched content.
Having fun – by definition – means being playful and limiting self-judgment, but self-judgment has dictated my relationship with music for more than half of my life. I am currently working through one of the most complicated relationships I’ve ever experienced. In doing so, I have at least identified what feels healthy and what I want more of, but I also know it’s going to be a long process.
In trying to carve out time for doing things that I love, I tend to turn activities that should be fun into obligations, at which point they are no longer fun. Music has been an incredibly important part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I’m trying very hard to figure out how to make it fun again.
Although some movie critics have attempted to define what constitutes a “Christmas movie,” some of the accepted criteria are incredibly subjective and depend on a viewer’s individual perception and family traditions. Despite the heated debates, I still believe one movie stands out from the others in the “action at Christmas” genre and truly deserves its place among the more traditionally accepted Christmas classics.