The Stars Over Amalfi

It took a major trip to Italy to discover a new level of relaxation.

Imagine yourself, sitting on the balcony of your own private sitting area overlooking the Almafi Coast. The sapphire blue coast smooths itself along the shore and vibrant houses hug the cliff overlooking purple wisteria swaying in the salty breeze.

Can you picture it?

I can. Because I am currently there (at the time of this writing).

I don’t say this to rub into your face. No. No. Not at all.

I am sharing this with you to try to shed some light on the moment of enlightenment that I have been fortunate to have and others are constantly seeking: Calmness.

For those of you who follow me, you will likely recall that I am a full-time RVer. I chose that lifestyle for two major reasons: Freedom and Health.

I will not touch too much into the “Freedom” perspective of it because I already have in these articles:

However, I do not touch on the topic of health as much as I (probably) should. I have horrible anxiety. It might be due to my previous work life, constant need to compete (thanks to attending a college-prep high school), or other factors. Overall, I feel like my heart is a Ferrari trapped in a Fiat.

Regardless, my anxiety and stress has greatly improved living a mobile life. I’ve been living this life for months and feel extraordinary happy. I thought, “I can’t possibly feel more at peace than this.”

Then, I visited Italy.

I knew I was going to have an excellent time and was looking forward to this unwritten chapter of my life.

However, what I did not expect: A new layer of tranquility.

It did not happen instantly. In fact, I was staying in Rome for a few days after I landed at the airport. I could tell that I was doing better on vacation. No one in the U.S. could reach me, I was in uncharted territory, and immersed in another culture.

Finally, I felt my anxiety ebbing, but not quite gone. In fact, I’d compare my anxiety as an invisible rash: You can’t see it, but you know it’s there.

In my typically-logical-sense, I deduced that my mind was probably in the honeymoon phase of vacation. Surely, my anxiety would return while in Rome. In fact, it got better upon the introduction to the Almafi Coast.

Momma Mia!

I discovered this moment of serenity sitting on my balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The sky painted itself in pastels and melted to a warm vibrancy as the sun slowly tucked itself under the horizon. Stillness stretched over the water welcoming an eager moon over its glassy surface.

Somehow, nature’s threads wove together and everything hushed.

Here, the noise disappears and is replaced by the soft hums of church bells echoing along the rocky coast. Even the olive branches stilled and knew that it was time to relax.

To my pleasant and unsuspected discovery, I found a new (and deeper) level of relaxation.

I slept with the doors to my balcony open. The stars twinkling above The Med and inside the small town at the cliff were my night lights. The soothing waves of the Almafi Coast softly whispered in my ears, “Shhhh. Go to sleep, mi amor.”

I will admit, my anxiety has not completely gone away despite the tranquilly, euphoria, and peacefulness the southern coast of Italy has graced me with. However, I can assure you: This is the most centered that I have experienced in a very long time.

Today, is the day that I got an invite to what “La Dolce Vita” means: The Sweet Life.

Grazie, Italia.

Shout out to fellow-Medium writer Gabriel Giella who has also written an amazing and heartwarming article about his experience on the Amalfi Coast.

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