Dealing with the Angst of Elusive Answers
When did we become convinced that answers should be ready on command? In my case, I suspect it happened when I began to think abstractly [...]
Pope Celestine V and the Courage to Resign
The verb “resign” can be a loaded word. The word can connote giving up or giving in. When a person is said to have resigned [...]
Taking a Break from Multitasking
Actually, I’m recovering from an investment in the illusion that multitasking is even possible. You may have noticed that ItalyWise has been quiet for the [...]
Letting Your Story Unfold
I’ve recently returned from a major writers’ conference in NYC and my brain is still on fire with all that I learned from a vast [...]
Pull the plug on the narrator in your head.
The narrator in your head doesn’t like to shut up. It thrives on constantly voicing its opinions and judgments about whatever is happening. For me, [...]
The Transformative Power of Stillness
My mother always joked that I was the vagabond of the family. She learned not to be surprised when I pulled up stakes and headed [...]
It’s a Matter of Perspective, Isn’t It?
Recently I was reminded of the benefits of entertaining different perspectives. As I’ve indicated in previous posts, my art and photography often teach me lessons that [...]
Building a New Life, Stone by Stone
Building a new life means recognizing you may have to lay new stones and tear out old ones. This realization has been smacking me in the [...]
Ready To Take the Plunge and Hit Reset?
If you're moving to Italy you'd best be prepared to hit reset. Why do I say this? Because, in my experience, many people can be [...]
The Gift of Winter in Italy.
A confession right up front: for most of my life I’ve despised winter (even winter in Italy) and looked on it as something to just [...]
The Power and Perils of Being Liked
Being liked. Am I too motivated by approval? This question has been percolating for at least a month. In fact, I considered making this subject [...]
Learning to Dance with Both Life and Death
I believe spending time in cemeteries helps remind me to wake up to the intrinsic dance of life and death. That’s why I love, in [...]
Trapped in a Thought Bubble?
If you’ve been following my recent posts, you won’t be surprised that my photography often ends up prompting me to write about a subject that [...]
Relax into the Unknown
This has become my mantra. Why? Because, for most of my life I’ve tried to master and control my experience. Trusting life and knowing how [...]
Exploring the Rich Potential of Spaciousness
I was ready for some spaciousness…or so I thought. Our long-awaited trip to the tranquil island of Folegandros, Greece, finally had arrived. This would be [...]
Big Life Changes and the Shifts of the Soul
When you decide to up-end your life completely and plop yourself down in a completely different culture like Italy, you might want to be prepared [...]
The Appeal of a Quiet Mind
“Stillness” — © Jed Smith, 2020 (oil on canvas) I’ve just completed my latest painting. It’s a big one [...]
My Italy Move, Several Years Later
My enduring metaphor for life… Here I am, several years after pulling the trigger on my Italy move. And I’m damn glad I made the [...]