Welcome.
Sit back,
Relax and get comfortable as we step into the beautiful spirit of Dolce Vita,
The sweet life.
This timeless Italian way of living celebrates the art of savouring each moment,
Finding joy in simplicity and embracing life with a grateful heart.
It's a wonderful reminder that life's true richness comes from slowing down and appreciating the small pleasures around us.
It honors laughter shared with loved ones,
The taste of fresh food,
The warmth of sunlight on our skin and the calm found in mindful presence.
In this meditation we celebrate Dolce Vita as a universal invitation to experience ease,
Joy and the sweetness of life.
We don't have to wait for the perfect day or trip to a faraway place to feel calm.
We can pause and slow down now,
Reconnecting with what truly brings ease and joy.
Peace is always available within us and when we slow down we cultivate presence and begin to savour the sweetness of life.
With that in mind,
Let's begin.
Allow your eyes to close and allow your whole body to soften.
You're exactly where you need to be.
Take a deep breath in and a deep,
Slow exhale out.
Notice your feet grounded on the floor.
Your body supported and relaxed.
Allow your shoulders to fall,
Your jaw to soften,
Your hands to rest.
Now imagine yourself strolling through a sunlit Italian village drenched in golden sunlight.
Feel the sun's gentle warmth on your skin as it melts away any tension and you feel yourself softening.
Your body getting softer.
With every step you feel the cobblestone streets beneath your feet,
Grounding you,
Connecting you deeply to the earth.
Notice the rhythm of your footsteps as you look around and see charming pastel buildings.
Their shutters are wide open,
Welcoming the day.
As you soak up the sun,
Your body softens even more and your breath becomes deeper and you feel more and more relaxed.
You feel a gentle breeze on your face and with this breeze comes the aroma of freshly brewed coffee as a cafe door opens.
You also detect a subtle smell of freshly made pastries.
You feel yourself smile widely as you watch people sitting outside,
Very slowly,
Savouring the day,
Savouring their coffees,
Savouring their pastries,
Enjoying each bite.
As you stroll past the cafe,
You start to notice another beautiful aroma.
The sweet smell of freshly made waffles as it's coming from a gelato shop.
Its doors open to reveal waffle cones and a wide range of gelato flavours.
You find yourself strolling in and soaking up the atmosphere.
You see locals sitting in the sun,
Enjoying their gelatos,
Savouring the sweetness of life.
And this moment,
You feel the warmth of this energy,
The aliveness of the present moment.
You decide to do the same and savour your chosen flavour of gelato.
As you continue soaking up this relaxed atmosphere.
After some time,
You decide to go back to walking through the village.
The church bell rings softly in the distance.
You hear the sound of laughter and friendly conversations.
As you walk along,
You come across a garden.
You walk in and notice lemon trees.
They fill you with a sense of awe as they dazzle with joy in the sunlight.
You walk closer to the trees and smell the fresh lemon scents.
It's like nothing you've experienced before.
You are filled with warmth,
Love and joy.
Your heart opens.
You take a moment to soak up this scene.
To fully savour this.
Soak it all in.
Let the sweetness of this place fill your heart.
With more love and more joy.
Breathe in the peace and ease that surrounds you.
Now bring your awareness back to your breath.
Feeling it rise and fall.
Notice your body becoming even softer.
Now repeat the following intentions silently in your mind or out loud.
You may wish to place a hand on your heart as you say to yourself.
I give myself moments to slow down and do nothing.
As I slow down,
I notice more beauty around me.
I am joyful and notice life's gifts.
I savour the sweetness of life.
Take a final deep breath in.
And a slow deep exhale out.
Slowly bring your attention back to your surroundings.
You may wish to wiggle your fingers and toes and gently open your eyes.
Carry this moment of dolce vita,
This sweet life with you.
Letting its calm and joy and sense of ease ripple through your day and into your life.
Wishing you many moments of savouring this sweet life.
