top of page

5 Things I Want in the New Year

Writer's picture: Su GuillorySu Guillory

Rather than writing New Year's Resolutions, which I do every year, this year I just want to share five things I want. Keep it simple!




  1. To Love Our New House/Life

I shared last week that we are moving to Davoli, into a home that's been in the family for three generations. We've got a lot of work to do...removing 1970s tile, painting, and leaving our imprint on it. Needless to say, I'm obsessing over design Instagram accounts and magazines right now!


The house is going to keep us busy for a while. Initially, we planned to get all the work done before we moved in, but we've decided to move sooner and do some of the work ourselves, piano piano.


I'm excited about repurposing antiques and giving them a new coat of paint, but I know it's going to be a lot of work and stress.


And then we have the fact that we're moving to tiny Davoli, population 600, where everyone knows Fra and I...even if I don't know them. It's going to be a big shift for me to settle into small(er) town life.


So here's to it all working out!


  1. To Have a Stress-Free Wedding

We've had another big shift in our plans. Instead of having the big wedding at the castle this year, we decided to postpone it until 2026 so we can focus on the house.


At first, I was devastated, because I was looking forward to it. But it wasn't realistic of me to take on two life-changing projects in the same year! So here's to listening to Divine wisdom and letting go of plans.


This way, we'll be able to save money that we're not spending on rent and put it toward the big party!


We are, however, still getting married at the comune, followed by a very intimate celebration with his immediate family. So here's to keeping things light and easy.


  1. To Be Healthy

Generally, I am in good health, but last year I started having stomach pain that led me down a rabbit hole of tests, doctors, and medicine. It still hasn't been resolved, but it's better.


I will say this: I find the healthcare system in Italy/Calabria to be more thorough and cautious than the American system. Any time there's even a slight uncertainty about something (a mole, a cyst), a doctor will refer me to a specialist for tests.


This can be, however, quite nerve-wracking, because my brain always goes to the worst-case scenario! And because it takes forever to schedule an appointment here (the first available colonoscopy was one year out), I've had to shell out money to pay for private services. It's cheaper than in the U.S., but still. I'm ready to have a clean bill of health and NOT go to the doctor for a while!


  1. To Help More People Move to Italy

Thanks to this blog, people who want to move to Italy are finding me. It's my goal to help them make the transition as smooth as possible. I do that by offering one-hour consultations, expat coaching, and books about becoming a digital nomad and getting a permesso di soggiorno.


This year I not only want to help more people in the process of moving here, but I also want to see it happen! I have a couple of clients who are on the verge of moving here, and I can't wait to celebrate when they arrive!


  1. To Feel Settled

I realize that when I sit still, I get antsy. I'm always doing something, whether that's making art, playing with herbs, planting a garden with the family, or learning more about their traditions.


And this year, with so much going on, I know I'm going to feel ungrounded and unsettled. I know it's going to take time, but the house we're moving into is one we plan to be in for the foreseeable future. The longest I've ever lived in a house is six years, but I'm ready to beat that and put down roots in a place that truly feels like ours.


The biggest challenge for me is to be patient. I want everything done yesterday! So I will keep reminding myself what Italians tell me all the time: piano, piano. Slowly, slowly. Everything happens in its right timing.


5 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page