“Don’t film it, dance it!”

Carlene

I have been in Italy for a week and a half now and can honestly say every day has been full of so many wonderful experiences – unbelievable sights around every corner, rich, delicious tastes at every meal (and snack!), even the traffic horns and sirens sound exotic here. I cannot quite believe that this is my life for the next few months, and I am trying to live in the moment and soak it all in.

On my third night in Rome, we went to a multimedia light show at the Forum. As we walked home, we came across a street musician playing on the sidewalk. An Italian couple strolling by stopped in the street and started dancing. Many passersby (including us) stopped to watch, a few with their phones turned toward them to capture the moment. The musician then shouted out, “Don’t film it, dance it!” Kim and I immediately looked at each other, recognizing the impact of that statement. She said, “We have to remember that line!” and I was already digging in my purse for my notebook to write it down (sorry, the Notes app on my phone is just not the same). I have thought about that statement quite a bit in my short time here because it feels so relevant. Now, I am not a dancer – never have been and never will be – but I do wish I were the type who could just break out dancing in the street. I am far too self-conscious and worried about what other people might think, but I’ve always been envious of people who just dance. Of course, the statement resonated with us so strongly because it applies to all aspects of life: Don’t just be an observer, be a participant!

This trip was an incredible leap of faith for me. My children are now grown, but I have spent the last twenty-two years primarily focusing on needs other than my own. I struggled with the idea of doing something so outrageous just for me. It felt selfish and irresponsible somehow, but I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I could not pass up. So I decided to Ieave my very stable job and nice house in the suburbs for the chance to travel and really explore who I want to be in this new phase of my life. While I am here, I hope to embrace every opportunity that comes my way. I want to say yes even if I am afraid or uncomfortable. I want to absorb every moment and be filled with gratitude that I am here. Yes, I will try to take lots of pictures, but even now I realize that I will not remember the names of all the churches, statues, and piazzas that I capture with my phone. What I will always remember are the precious moments laughing with my sister and nephew, the way I feel every single time I walk out the door of our apartment and see the Pantheon looming at the end of our street, eating creamy, delicious pasta every night (often well after my previous bedtime of 9 p.m.). I want to be present for every moment, and sometimes that means not taking out my phone to record it. I am grateful we had that moment with the street musician so early in our trip because he gave me a motto (altered just a bit), hopefully not just for this year but for the rest of my life – “Don’t film it, live it!”