Italian film director Federico Fellini is one of the worlds most distinctive filmmakers following WWII. His style was influenced particularly by the Neorealist movement, where he developed his own methods mixing fantasy and baroque images with the ordinary realness of the world. Fellini was inspired by his dreams and he started recording them in notebooks in the 1960s. His dreams and the many events that made up his life were the raw material that were used for his films. Growing up in an Italy that was dominated by Mussolini and Pope Pius XII, Fellini's life was nothing short of interesting. He created the film La Dolce Vita, and it reminded me so much of my journey here in Italy.
Every since I was a little girl, I would record my thoughts and dreams in notebooks too. I always felt like one day I was turn them into a screenplay. Today, I use much of the content that I've created over the years in blog posts to share with you. I love documenting my travels, discussing the world of design, and being fluid with my stream of consciousness. A few weeks ago, author Kyle Westaway wrote in his Weekend Briefing 184 (if you don't already subscribe to this, do yourself a favor and sign up for weekly Saturday treats directly sent to your inbox) a concept that was featured on BBC called ikigai. Ikigai is a Japanese term that embodies the idea of happiness in living. Essentially, ikigai is the reason you get up in the morning. To those in the West who are more familiar with the concept of ikigai, it's often associated with a Venn diagram with four overlapping qualities: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Ikigai is what allows you to look forward to the future even if you're miserable right now.
I've spent the majority of my 20s exploring myself and the world around me. I've traveled the globe to places that most people dream of, I've started a number of companies, I've worked for a number of companies, I've met some pretty incredible people, I've been in international romances, and discovered a combination that works in order for me to maximize my life. I don't feel like I am I am lucky. Everything I have done has been a choice. I believe that every action, every thought, every emotion is a choice; a choice towards freedom rather than fear. So, in short, I've chosen to live the life I am living and I am on a quest to living the most colorful life that I can possibly live. I definitely think I have mastered the idea of "ikigai", but sometimes it takes getting lost to find yourself.
Sarah and I stopped in wine country for a few days to relax, drink some wine local to the region, and take some really breathtaking shots. We decided to wake up at dawn to try and capture the sunrise. The sun rose really quickly, so we captured a bunch of different shots at different light. Thank you so much to the NaturalMente Wine Resort for such a kind stay. We really enjoyed ourselves with your local hospitality. Coming up next is our stay at Castello di Guarene.
Coco Wears: Vintage knit and lace dress, Vintage hat, Vintage straw bag. Photography: Sarah Son. Location: NaturalMente Wine Resort, Agliano Terme, Province of Asti, Piedmont Countryside, Italy.