Sitting in a cafe with an espresso, gazing at the street. Blissfully lounging by the pool with a book as the hours go by. Indulging in Chitarra di Mare with light music in the background and your own company. No phone in sight. No rush. No anxiety. No looming guilt. Completely disconnected. Just a blissful sense of leisure.

The question entered my mind while I was getting a manicure this afternoon, the appointment squeezed in between a million and one errands. Even that moment of pampering, I noticed as I ruined my color for the fourth time, was accompanied by my haste to reply to emails. 

Unlike last summer, when I spent a couple of weeks in Europe, without my laptop and in absolute awe of countless galleries and museums, this summer I have barely had a moment to stop and breathe. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. This year was thrilling, challenging and full of lessons. I feel like it’s the year that has made the most impact on my life thus far. 

However, one of the things that I most often joke about is my ability to be leisurely. I take a lot of pride in it. I grew up with the mentality to slow down and be present; to absorb myself in whatever joyful activity I’m doing. This can simply mean having a cup of coffee in the morning while reading the paper, or walking the dog, or perhaps driving and listening to music—whatever suits your fancy and sparks joy within you. 

The difficulty is, for the past couple of weeks, I haven’t been living this way. Until, that is, this afternoon jolted me. It reminded me it’s those small moments of our routine that make us smile, not just fancy getaways. It’s the everyday. So, as we enter the long weekend, take a moment to enjoy that sense of leisure and joy. Maybe go so far as to leave your laptop and phone behind for a few hours, even a few days. Try to let go of that need to be constantly productive and practice the art of doing nothing at all!

With Love…

Marta