to live and not chase (p.20)
“Tomorrow is tomorrow. Future cares have future cures, And we must mind today.
”
-Sophocles, Antigone
After recently returning from Italy, the trinket I brought back wasn’t a statue of David (though WOW, he is a MUST see!). It was how differently I went about each day. I wasn’t thinking about what needed to be done, how to move my business ahead, what time I was working out, or whether I got enough water. Did I go to bed on time? Rise early? I did none of it. Though I walked miles each day (workout) and attended a writers retreat that filled me like manna (moving my business ahead). Sleep and water came naturally.
Italians are such beautiful people. They are kind and so patient. And the way they live, I have written about before. They do not chase. They live each day as it unfolds.
I always leave wanting to return.
This time, I was able to unwrap my trinket a little more. I understand travel is like an eraser that leaves a trail. It removes us from our daily lives, so it is easier to see the moments. I have no excuses or to-do’s to fill my day and nothing to chase.
I will never get enough of Italy or Italians. They show me what it looks like to live. They stroll cobblestone streets with no hurriedness. Meals are shared, never rushed, and always around a table. They sing arm in arm while walking home under the moonlit sky. Eavesdropping on Italian conversations is like having front row seats to a romantic orchestra playing that is a dessert for the ears. Daily life is the goal, and careers are a means to get there. It’s a beautiful life.
How can I bring that day back home? How can I learn not to chase? I still have goals and plans, but I think it’s more about stepping in the right direction each day and leaving space for the moments that might otherwise go unnoticed, like a dream that I can’t remember.
As Creon sat with obvious regret in the Tragedy play Antigone, he was reminded that today is what he had, not yesterday, and not tomorrow, but only today. He sat with his remorse. My hope is to live more like Italians savoring over pursuing and living each day with no hint of regret.
Let us live today, savor the moments, and only chase what fills our hearts. ❤️
