Il Dolce Far Niente: 31 Days of Savoring Summer
A gentle invitation to slow down, savor small joys, and embrace the sweetness of simply being.
Hello friends,
As this newsletter arrives in your inbox, I’m preparing for my mother’s memorial service and then packing for an 18-day trip to Italy and Sicily. It’s a long-awaited mother/daughter adventure — one we had originally planned for March 2020, before the world came to a pause. After years of waiting, the time has finally come to go.
Because this season holds both tenderness and adventure, I’ll be stepping back this month to be fully present with it all. This will be the only email I send in May, and I’ll be quietly joining you in the background.
Our theme this month is Il Dolce Far Niente — the sweetness of doing nothing. In Italian culture, this phrase isn’t about laziness, but about the beautiful art of savoring life’s simplest, most meaningful moments. And that’s exactly what I intend to do.
Here’s how it works:
You’ll receive this one email which includes the full 31-day challenge.
Use the daily prompt list to explore that day’s invitation.
There’s no pressure to do it perfectly — just a reminder to pause, breathe, and enjoy.
🌿 Daily Invitation Guide
Day 1: Permission to Begin
Start by setting your intention. Brew a favorite drink, light a candle, and commit to showing up for one sweet moment a day.
Day 2: Permission to Pause
Linger over your morning drink. Let yourself be still. Notice how it feels to move slowly into your day.
Day 3: Permission to Indulge
Give yourself a treat. Savor every bite. Let pleasure be the point — not the reward.
Day 4: Permission to Wander
Take a walk without a goal. Follow your curiosity. Let beauty surprise you.
Day 5: Permission to Do Nothing
Sit quietly for 10 minutes. No phone, no distractions. Just breathe. Just be.
Day 6: Permission to Romanticize Your Life
Add a little sparkle to your day — wear your favorite outfit, set the table beautifully, or listen to a dreamy playlist.
Day 7: Permission to Rest
Take a nap or rest midday. Make it cozy: soft blanket, closed eyes, and a little time to recharge.
Day 8: Permission to Be Playful
Do something just for fun — blow bubbles, swing at the park, or make a silly doodle. Let go of being serious.
Day 9: Permission to Lose Track of Time
Turn off your phone. Let yourself get lost in a book, a conversation, or a lingering dinner.
Day 10: Permission to Eat Slowly
Savor your food. Set the table. Light a candle. Eat like it’s a celebration, not a task.
Day 11: Permission to Be in Nature
Step outside. Sit in the grass. Touch a tree. Feel the sun or breeze. Let the earth hold you.
Day 12: Permission to Enjoy Silence
No music. No talking. Just a quiet space. Light a candle and sit with the stillness.
Day 13: Permission to Disconnect
Take a break from screens. Journal by hand, write a letter, or do a hands-on craft.
Day 14: Permission to Delight in Something Small
Notice the tiniest details — the swirl in your coffee, a petal in the grass, the warmth of sunlight on your skin.
Day 15: Permission to People-Watch
Sit in a café, at a park, or on a bench. Watch the world go by. Notice the stories unfolding.
Day 16: Permission to Linger Longer
Stay a little longer — at the table, in the conversation, or in bed with your thoughts.
Day 17: Permission to Do Nothing Productive
Let yourself be unproductive — no to-do lists, no tasks. Do something simply because you want to.
Day 18: Permission to Savor a Drink
Slowly sip something lovely. Notice the flavor, temperature, and how it feels to slow down.
Day 19: Permission to Take the Scenic Route
Drive or walk the long way. Wander through side streets. Let yourself detour.
Day 20: Permission to Laugh Freely
Seek out joy. Watch a funny movie, call a friend, or laugh out loud with someone you love.
Day 21: Permission to Pause at Sunset
Stop what you’re doing and watch the sky change. Let sunset be your ceremony.
Day 22: Permission to Enjoy Silence Again
Create another pocket of silence. Let it deepen. Listen to what comes up.
Day 23: Permission to Move Slowly
Walk slowly. Speak slowly. Breathe slowly. Let your whole day soften.
Day 24: Permission to Dream
Daydream without limits. Journal your big ideas. Let your imagination take the lead.
Day 25: Permission to Do Nothing Again
Remind yourself that rest is holy. Sit. Stare. Stretch. Let yourself breathe deeply.
Day 26: Permission to Indulge Again
Repeat the sweetness. A fancy coffee, a bubble bath, or something delicious — guilt-free.
Day 27: Permission to Wander Again
Try wandering a different way — explore a new neighborhood, thrift shop, or bookstore.
Day 28: Permission to Celebrate the Ordinary
Find beauty in the everyday — folding laundry, preparing a meal, a quiet moment at home.
Day 29: Permission to Simply Be
Let go of needing to accomplish anything today. Just be. You're already enough.
Day 30: Closing the Circle
Reflect on the past 30 days. What surprised you? What will you keep?
Day 31: Carry the Sweetness Forward
Let this slow, sweet way of living become a thread in your everyday life. What tiny ritual will you continue?
May this month be a gentle reminder that you don’t have to earn your rest, your joy, or your quiet moments. They are yours for the taking — little gifts scattered throughout the day, waiting to be noticed.
The Kitchen Table gathering has been cancelled this month. I can’t wait to join you again in June.
Thank you for being here, for pausing, and for choosing to savor alongside me.
