I’m heading to Italy!
My hope is that it will be a journey of discovery. I am eager to talk, listen and learn from some amazing women championing empowerment.
In conversation with several of these amazing women, I’m struck by how much we, as women, have in common, no matter where we come from. We all seek connection, belonging, and the power to shape our lives. Italy’s rich focus on family and community offers a unique perspective on empowerment—one that’s less about individual success and more about the strength we find together.
There is great power when we are in a community with each other. And it turns out that these social bonds may be the secret sauce that keeps us healthy. Yes, our diet and activity level are all very important to healthy longevity, but they may come in a distant second to this one thing.
The Secret to Good Health
One discovery in the famous Roseto study revealed the secret to better health and longer life expectancy. In Roseto, Pennsylvania, researchers discovered that the Italian immigrant community had remarkably low rates of heart disease. Surprisingly, this wasn’t due to diet or exercise but rather the strong social bonds, close family ties, and supportive community that defined their lives.
As the backbone of these families, women played a crucial role in fostering this connectedness, creating a healthier, happier environment for everyone.
Now, any of us with Italian heritage know two things with certainty—it’s all about the food and the sharing of the food. Of course, I am sure this can apply to many cultures, but it does seem to be a strong signature statement for those with Italian heritage—it certainly is in my family!
La Familia
My grandfather was born and raised in Italy and the stories we were told many times reminded us that the concept of la famiglia is central to life. And that it’s about more than just relatives—it’s about a network of support, love, and belonging.
No matter your heritage, family is about the people who show up for us, support us, and share a deep bond with us. These connections are just as powerful whether they’re close friends, neighbors, or chosen family members.
Our chosen families can provide the same sense of belonging and support, proving that empowerment comes from the quality of our relationships, not just their origins.
Our experiences as women are diverse, but the common bond that runs through our religions, cultures, history, and family makeup is our strong desire for community. As the Roseto study proves, our health and happiness are deeply intertwined with the quality of our social connections.
As I learn from the incredible women of Italy, I encourage you to reflect on your own connections.
How Can You Strengthen Your Relationships?
How can you strengthen the bonds that empower you? We all know how busy days, weeks and months can get and before we know it, we may have lost contact with people we love or have cheated ourselves out of the richness that comes from deep connections.
Maybe it’s time to nurture the relationships that bring meaning to our lives. Let’s be honest—reaching out to each other really doesn’t take that much time. We tend to make it more complicated than it needs to be by waiting for the right time, the perfect time, or enough time. But the truth is, it’s simply a conscious choice we make.
Our relationships not only lead to greater joy, resilience, and empowerment but also improve our health. Remember, our true strength doesn’t come from standing alone—it comes from the bonds we share and the communities we build together.
I look forward to sharing more about this beautiful country and the amazing women who are making a difference.
