"Il Dolce Far Niente"...The Sweetness of Doing Nothing!!!
I first heard those words while I was reading the book Eat, Pray, Love and actually heard the correct pronunciation of that phrase in the movie made popular by Julia Roberts. I have to say that the part in the book and the movie that takes place in Italy is by far my most favorite part. Although I'm really "Jones-ing" for a trip to Italy and have been drooling over friends pictures and straight-up stalking Pinterest photos of Italy, I have adapted this phrase into my everyday life!
In a nation where we're constantly on the go and feel like we ALWAYS have to be doing SOMETHING, I think sometimes we fail to appreciate the finer things in life a.k.a. "the sweetness of doing nothing!" I have definitely learned that in the fast paced culinary world you have to have some kind of vice be it smoking like a chimney, drinking like a fish, or enjoying some "herbs!" Well since I don't do any of those I've had to find other ways to "unwind" at the end of a crazy day/night. If working out 2 times a day isn't enough, then it's inflicting pain on my students or throwing 500 various boxing strikes in 2 minutes. But I've also discovered it's the little things that I appreciate: long invigorating bubble baths, ending the night with a cup of hibiscus tea, or honestly sitting in front of the TV and "vegging out" to mind-numbing television.
That's why one of my fave places to visit (and hopefully live soon) is Hawaii because I think they've really embraced that philosophy. How can you not do anything but enjoy "the sweetness of doing nothing" when you're smack dab in paradise? I L-O-V-E being able to wake up to the smell of the ocean, the sound of the trade winds, and the feel of the subtle humidity on your sun-kissed skin from your lanai!!!
Another way I've applied this whole philosophy is to my cooking! I've realized that some of the best food I've ever had, were made from the freshest of ingredients and involved so little cooking preparation. That's the true "sweetness of doing nothing" to me is when you can take local ingredients and just utilize their natural flavors and not have to involve harsh cooking preparations to destroy their flavors. To me that is the PASSION of cooking!!! We have a cute little acronym in martial arts called K.I.S.S.-Keep It Simple Stupid, meaning that you don't have to complicate things, just keep them in their purest form.
I don't have all the answers, I don't know what the future will hold, but I know that right now in this life, we damn well better appreciate the small things in life and the simplistic philosophy of "the sweetness of doing nothing!" Remember it's okay to enjoy that sunset, to lounge by the pool, to sing Call Me Maybe a dozen times, to order takeout when you don't feel like cooking, to not want to go out and just have a movie night in, to not wear any makeup! (Okay that's never okay! J/k!)
The moral of the story followers, fans and groupies: Remember the "sweetness of doing nothing!"
Until next time,
<3 Cheffie <3
I first heard those words while I was reading the book Eat, Pray, Love and actually heard the correct pronunciation of that phrase in the movie made popular by Julia Roberts. I have to say that the part in the book and the movie that takes place in Italy is by far my most favorite part. Although I'm really "Jones-ing" for a trip to Italy and have been drooling over friends pictures and straight-up stalking Pinterest photos of Italy, I have adapted this phrase into my everyday life!
In a nation where we're constantly on the go and feel like we ALWAYS have to be doing SOMETHING, I think sometimes we fail to appreciate the finer things in life a.k.a. "the sweetness of doing nothing!" I have definitely learned that in the fast paced culinary world you have to have some kind of vice be it smoking like a chimney, drinking like a fish, or enjoying some "herbs!" Well since I don't do any of those I've had to find other ways to "unwind" at the end of a crazy day/night. If working out 2 times a day isn't enough, then it's inflicting pain on my students or throwing 500 various boxing strikes in 2 minutes. But I've also discovered it's the little things that I appreciate: long invigorating bubble baths, ending the night with a cup of hibiscus tea, or honestly sitting in front of the TV and "vegging out" to mind-numbing television.
That's why one of my fave places to visit (and hopefully live soon) is Hawaii because I think they've really embraced that philosophy. How can you not do anything but enjoy "the sweetness of doing nothing" when you're smack dab in paradise? I L-O-V-E being able to wake up to the smell of the ocean, the sound of the trade winds, and the feel of the subtle humidity on your sun-kissed skin from your lanai!!!
Another way I've applied this whole philosophy is to my cooking! I've realized that some of the best food I've ever had, were made from the freshest of ingredients and involved so little cooking preparation. That's the true "sweetness of doing nothing" to me is when you can take local ingredients and just utilize their natural flavors and not have to involve harsh cooking preparations to destroy their flavors. To me that is the PASSION of cooking!!! We have a cute little acronym in martial arts called K.I.S.S.-Keep It Simple Stupid, meaning that you don't have to complicate things, just keep them in their purest form.
I don't have all the answers, I don't know what the future will hold, but I know that right now in this life, we damn well better appreciate the small things in life and the simplistic philosophy of "the sweetness of doing nothing!" Remember it's okay to enjoy that sunset, to lounge by the pool, to sing Call Me Maybe a dozen times, to order takeout when you don't feel like cooking, to not want to go out and just have a movie night in, to not wear any makeup! (Okay that's never okay! J/k!)
The moral of the story followers, fans and groupies: Remember the "sweetness of doing nothing!"
Until next time,
<3 Cheffie <3
