Comfort is my best friend… I’m now use to it! But I sometimes wonder what it would be like to lead a simpler life… I mean, less comfort, less consuming, fewer needs, fewer desires! Well, it suddenly hit me even stronger while changing location in my spiritual trip!

In my last post, I told you I was to change location. It was meant to be… I mean, I did not have any plans, but I knew I’d leave Termoli after a while. I decided to go somewhere I had never been before… somewhere unexplored. Roll the drums… I’m now in Gallipoli (Salento).

OK! I must admit that this is another Italian paradise. I mean, what is there not to love in Italy right? Only thing is I booked an amazing B&B … very comfortable. Very well kept and super clean … just a little outside the town centre! Let’s just say it’s like a 35-minute walk in this crazy Italian heat. At 9:00 a.m. today, the temperature was already at 33 degrees Celsius.

Comfort: No Renouncements!

It’s funny because one of the things I told myself while coming to Italy is that I would still manage to go to the gym. I truly had the intention … did I? The only thing is that the gym was like a 45-minute walk from my place in Termoli. I mean I couldn’t walk there! Please tell me I’m not the only one finding all the best excuses! LOL.

Well, last night, as I got to Gallipoli, I decided to take a walk downtown. Going wasn’t a problem. I was sweating bullets, even if there was no more sun, but then coming back… I mean, I didn’t realize the street to my B&B was a hill. I knew, but the heat and the walking uphill for 35 minutes literally killed me.

I got to my room and took a shower right away. I couldn’t handle it. I turned on the AC and took the ‘whale’ pose for quite a while! I then send a few text messages to a friend saying I did not really love this city and that my first impressions were not positive at all.

Comfort: My Worst Enemy!

It’s weird because last night, as I went to bed, I was about to rethink my plans. Where else could I go? What should I do? Maybe I should warn the B&B owner that I will not be staying.

As I awoke this morning, in my daily meditation I started noticing how I was conditioned by comfort and how my vision of things and of this town and its people was distorted by my search for commodities. I went down for breakfast and spoke for almost an hour with the lady at breakfast … she was such a sweet Salentina lady … typical accent, gorgeous features, super nice personality.

We were both sweating intensely even in the shade. And, suddenly, a thought came to mind: what did all these elderly people do without AC, ventilators or all our commodities? How did they manage life through the summer without those basic elements we now enjoy?

Although I was still not sure about this town and my only desire was to run back to AC, I decided to give it a try. So, I went to brush my teeth, drank half a litre of cold water and decided to go for a long walk.

Comfort: Distorting glasses!

In my morning walk, everything changed! I went into a few stores and a few coffee shops … mainly for the AC… HAHA! And people were so kind, so welcoming, so generous. The streets seemed so much nicer and even the sea was divinely beautiful.

I was still struggling with the distance of where my B&B was, so I went to check for the possibility of renting a Vespa. On my way back home … always uphill, I figured I also needed this exercise and that it would probably be good for my health to simply walk every day and everywhere.

It’s as if my search for comfort and for commodities, kept me from even noticing that my B&B was actually a little corner of paradise. That the location is quiet; plus I can enjoy a wonderful terrace on which I am writing this post, in the shade, while still sweating bullets.

Comfort: Keeping Me from a Simple Life

Because of this seemingly banal event, it’s as if I realized I was blinded by comfort and material goods. It is easy to fall into a spiral of endless needs in which we never have enough shoes, shirts, pants, etc. I don’t know about you, but the reasons that lead me to buy are mainly absurd.

At the beginning of my trip, while packing my suitcase, I decided to bring only white shirts. I had many white summer linen shirts. I chose four and decided to bring only those since they were enough for my trip. Well, since I’m here, the temptation to buy other shirts has been constantly present. I was somehow always pressed by the idea of others thinking I always wear the same clothes … isn’t that absurd?

As I got to the B&B, I talked to the owner as he was giving me a tour of the city. He told me his life story and how he had the opportunity to live in the north of Italy (mainly in Milan and Verona). Of all the things he could have said, he told me, “I preferred to come back here and live. People are welcoming and kind. In Milano, you have to wear branded clothes and change shirts daily, people look at that. Here, you can wear the same thing daily and no one cares or will ever tell you anything!”

Oh well, there goes my excuse for buying a new Italian shirt! LOL. I think we often let society condition our choices and impose on ourselves so many needs. What if we just simply chose to let go? What if we did what truly made us happy and spent money on valuable things that make a true difference in our lives?

Well, one thing is sure… I am now totally soaked in sweat and am smiling! Why? Because life has taught me something more; I gained new insight on life and on my true needs. When we set goals and make sense out of even the worst circumstances, we could make sense of it and reach new and unknown goals.

So yes, I’ll keep walking. I have some fat to burn… After all, I can maybe allow myself to eat an extra pasticcioto Leccese (see here what it is). Did you subscribe yet? Make sure you do and share with some friends so we can all grow together.