The page is like a map for my day, the X that marks the spot where I am. Here I am, right now, looking out the window and noticing the little things. This quiet time helps me tune into how I feel, what’s pressing on my mind, and what I want for the day. It’s a starting point, every morning, over and over again; a way of continuing to be myself.

I keep a list of what nourishes me through the winter season for days when I might forget. 

Using a simple Italian paper calendar has become a grounding ritual in my mornings. Each day, as I tear off yesterday’s page to reveal today, I’m reminded to stay present, to savor the moment, and to embrace the calm before the day unfolds. This small, mindful practice helps me slow down and focus on one day at a time

Having a journaling practice is essential to my well-being. When I am feeling out of balance sitting down with pen and paper to sift through thoughts and feelings always restores me. 

The wild mint blows in the breeze as I sit on the steps of an abandoned stone house at the end of a street where my great-grandparents lived.

I’ve just come home with market fresh porcini mushrooms to prepare for dinner. I’m making tagliatelle ai funghi porcini, a favorite and easy seasonal dish to make.

I am a deskless writer...