Every morning begins the same. Before I leave my bed, a guided morning meditation wakes me up with a positive and thoughtful start to the day. Then I make a small breakfast along with a cappuccino— no distractions, other than the birds chirping from Boboli Garden above my skylights.
This always motivates me to get outside to move my body, so I go for a walk in a nearby park, where The Florence Institute of Art resides. On the way, I always see a familiar face or two from the local shop owners and passersby to greet them with a smile and 'buongiorno!'
But when I approach Porta Romana, and turn the corner, a gated entrance flanked by locals selling fresh fruits and vegetables await me and the rest of the neighborhood. And then I enter the park— huge, gorgeous trees draw you into this other peaceful universe, nature. I walk in awe of the beauty, kissing the ground with my feet with every step that I take.
Tons of students sitting on benches, little kids playing on the playground with their caregivers, and people walking their dogs. It is such a site to see and even though it is right in the middle of a bustling roundabout, it is another sort of sanctuary, once inside this hidden gem in Firenze.
Of course I have my Substitute in tow, as I never leave the house without it, and it never fails to spark a conversation with a curious bystander. I tend to have unexpected moments like this wherever I go, as everyone is always intrigued by The Substitute, or my style, for that matter.
When I get back home, I have even more to write about, so I sit to write in my journal on the previous day and any thoughts, emotions, or feelings that have come up so that I can later reflect, but also allow the free flow of ideas to stream. After I feel like I have gotten everything out, or at least a few pages down, I repeat my affirmations and write down my daily intention.
Sometimes I do the writing and the walking in reverse, but they are part of my daily routine. Regardless, they both happen before I get on my yoga mat. I practice for 60 minutes everyday, and change the focus to a different chakra weekly, to ensure my alignment is properly placed.
This is my morning ritual. Typically, my day starts around 11, giving me four hours to myself at the start of every day to center myself emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. There is no rushing, no running, no forcing, only allowing the day to unfold naturally in a grounded way.
By now, I have checked all my messages and emails, social media notifications, along with my calendar to double check my schedule for the day. This is all paramount to my daily success.
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