The Art of Slowing Down and Making Your Life a Masterpiece

Did you ever stopped and asked yourself: "Why am I rushing? What is the purpose?" lately?

I am.

Right this evening.

Why are we all running to be known, to feel worth it, to get people to like us, pay us... choose US!?

Always on our phones, eyes trapped in screens, hours passing by clocking in for a monthly paycheck, worrying, talking, thinking... in a neverending spiral. And to what purpose? In vane!

I am writing this to help you remember that you are enough!

Slow down! Learn to do nothing. Learn to stand still and just enjoy where you're at. And smile. Be grateful for what you do have and money will never be enough.

Money is the thing that's never enough today. It's all a lie. Shadows.

Meanwhile, we are all enough.

Unique human beings, with different gifts and talents that are better off used complementing what others have less. All fitting like a puzzle set, helping improve the world around us.

Il Dolce Far Niente

There is pleasure in not doing anything. In just watching the world go by and enjoying the rest, the quiet, the... sweetness of doing nothing.

Sitting in silence, being mindful rejuvenates the mind, the body, our whole being. Have you ever tried it? It does wonders!

Each time I come back to the rumble and bumble of everyday life, the contrast hits me, sharp as a blade. Our life is metallic. Cold, distant... not connected to what we all need.

Belonging.

Rest.

Exchanging love and laughter.

Italians take time to enjoy all that they work hard for, their families, their food, their bodies and their surroundings. It's a choice they make.

The choice of doing nothing.

The choice that they perfected to an art. This is what I call lifestyle design at its finest! And most simplest!

Let go of all, so you begin to see what you really need. See what you miss. Pay attention to where your mind wanders, what the colors, smells, sounds, sensations and tastes are.

The Art Of Lifestyle Design

Lifestyle design means shaping your life the way you want it to be. Lifestyle design is about freedom, doing all the things you like. All the things you chose to have around you.

It's about spending every day in the best way possible, feeling the way you want to. Each day aiming to make your life meaningful by helping others with what you're good at and improving the world with even just a smile, a skill or a story.

"In reality, all men are sculptors, constantly chipping away the unwanted parts of their lives trying to create a masterpiece."

(Eddie Murphy)

A design is an intentional plan based on deep research, outlining the actions you need to take in order to achieve your specific purpose.

Lifestyle design means living with intention, feeling in complete alignment with your life vision, values, abilities and needs.

It's about daring spirits, kind hearts and visionary minds. It's about stopping the rush of the world, going back to yourself, assessing it all, and then coming up with a plan that you will act on day by day by day.

That's it! It's that simple!

Our lifestyle mimics our goals, dreams and aspirations. It showcases what we value in life and the things we consider important. It's about the rhythm of our lives alligning with our internal one.

The process of identifying our values and living a life that's consistent with them enables us to reach to higher versions of ourselves.

Like with any masterpiece, we need to pay attention to details. Become a modern-day Michelangelo and chip at it from within.

Also, remembet that no masterpiece exists without flaws.

We all make mistakes, we all fail. That's when our work of art gains its  cracks. Lifestyle design is also about finding strenght in imperfection.

"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places."

(Ernest Hemingway)

In Japan, broken objects are often repaired with gold. The cracks are seen as a unique part of the object's history, adding to its beauty. Take this into account when you're feeling broken, not worthy or a failure.

See the beauty in all the broken pieces. Find the perfection in imperfection. In yourself.

Life was never meant to be easy, but working through mistakes and setbacks creates skill and builds talent. Get good at something, take some hardship and learn from it all.

"It is when you're going through the most difficult chapter of life that your hero is revealed, and how beautiful it is when you finally realize - you have the strenght to build yourself back up!"

(Unknown)

And this is what we do at OSCAR & SMart! This is part of my gift. Letting you know how others did this. How I, myself did it. What are the challenges, solutions and shortcuts of lifestyle design in all its shapes and sizes!

This is only the beginning!

Meanwhile, go to the "Welcome Home!" page, at the top menu and subscribe. Just so you know when we gather around our digital table again.

Use the comments to ask questions, add your ideas, and share with us all.

Cheers, darlings!
Denisa