This year I decided to take some time to decide on how to take on the New Year, waiting a few weeks to get serious about plans for 2024. I'm channeling Renaissance legend Leonardo da Vinci for inspiration with a different approach to the usual set of resolutions plus a compelling reason why one of your resolutions should be to eat, drink and be merry long after Christmas has passed!
Beginning a New Year is no small task. Making annual promises to improve or change has been a huge part of our culture since ancient times. The month of January was named after Janus, the Roman god of doors, choices, beginnings and endings and now might be a good time to refocus on your priorities and set goals.
This year I decided to take some time to decide on how to take on the New Year, waiting a few weeks to get serious about our trajectory for the New Year. For 2024 I'm channeling Renaissance legend Leonardo da Vinci for inspiration with a different approach to the usual set of resolutions. I don’t know for certain if da Vinci made New Year’s resolutions but if he did, based on the book How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day, they might have included the following.
I know from my experiences taste traveling in Italy with my Italian family and friends that one resolution in particular is a part of the Italian lifestyle and one that we prioritize because it fosters health and well being - "Make dining a pleasurable experience".
Whatever we eat or drink should bring health to the body and joy to our day and if you can do so with others so much the better. Studies show that the more often people eat with others the more likely they are to feel happy and satisfied with their lives (Oxford University). So this year resolve to invite someone to share a meal. Making time to plan a shared meal is a worthy New Year's resolution. Something we can do for our own health and well being that can benefit others.
I Leonardo Resolve To –
Develop a curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning.
Practice persistence and worry less about getting things done and remember that everything leads to a greater understanding even the things that are begun and unfinished.
Develop a positive attitude. Learn from mistakes and aim for progress but letting go of perfection.
Simplify and remember that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.
Stay active physically and mentally spending time in nature for that is what stimulates neural connections that activate healthy behaviors and actions.
Avoid anger and grievous moods and keep your mind cheerful. Practice poise and grace.
Do not worry about pleasing other people if it becomes more important than our own health and self-care goals.
Making dining a pleasurable and sensual experience and stop eating just before you feel full.
Find your purpose by looking at your life vision, values and goals from a holistic perspective so that you can integrate them into your whole self.
Temper logic with imagination; work with play; problem solving with creativity.
Cultivate your senses and reflect on their enjoyment.
Make an action plan with visuals and text for continuous improvement and measure your progress.
Find many ingredients to make dining interesting and pleasurable at CosituttiMarketPlace
including the most essential, extra virgin olive oil. Our favorite for the New Year is Colli Etruschi Extra Virgin Olive Oil because of its versatility, health benefits and ties to a community cooperative established in 1965. Agricola Cooperativa Colli Etruschi now collaborates with over 330 local member farmers working more than 800 hectares of historical olive groves in Lazio to produce award winning Italian olive oil.
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