With Rhianna May

When I close my eyes, I can almost feel the salty air against my skin, the pounding of my heart after running up the steep stone steps, the undeniable joy at being surrounded by such wonder.

I can hear the laughter of my friends and the bubbly chatter of the photographers lined up along the perch beneath us, a low stone wall the only thing between them and a steep drop below.

Around me, everyone scrambles to take the best photo - phones, iPads, DSLRs with lenses longer than my arm. I let my camera drop to my side, perched on two fingers, an extension of my hand, and take a deep breath.

The sea salt air fills my lungs and brings with it a soft, overwhelming peace. A reminder of how simple it is to find magic in this world. In a period so heavy with uncertainty, I want to remember this lightness forever.

I savour the way the sun bounces through the clouds and off the colourful village below. I feel immense joy overhearing the three women who so willingly tagged along with me for this crazy trip as they declare

loudly, "I can't even with this!"
sarcastically, "Remind me why I live in Milan again?"
reverently, "Wow. This is so, so beautiful."

I lap up the sound of the turbulent Mediterranean below.

Without realising, a smile spreads itself across my face and laughter breaks forth. How is this is my life? It seems impossible.

My friends say, "andiamo!" and I realise I still haven't taken a photo - that all-important reminder. "Arrivo!"

I pull the camera to my eye, check the settings, and line up the horizon. I hold my breath as I check each corner of the image, not daring to breathe out again until the shutter fires.

I slide the lens cap on to see one friend still waiting. "Got it?" "Hope so!" And we take off, ready to conquer the rest of those stone stairs.

Happy Monday wonderful people 🌿
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This is just your friendly reminder to take regular breaks, to enjoy the sunshine (it's 22 degrees in Milano! 🎉), stay hydrated, and remember to stare off into the distance every so often (your eyes will thank you!) 😎
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It's funny, I used to see posts like this and think, that's sweet but do I really need this daily reminder?
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Then I realised that seeing these posts, over & over again (here's looking at you and ), has genuinely helped me to be kinder to myself and to prioritise self-care even when I have looming deadlines or feel pressure to just get sh*t done.
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And here's the thing... yes, I'm a happier, better version of myself when I give myself moments to relax, but also, I'm a whole lot more productive 🤓
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Problems that before would have been frustrating become enjoyable. I'm excited to throw myself into research for a new project, and trying to come up with the perfect wording for a tagline feels like a fun puzzle instead of an infuriating conundrum of words that just don't fit.
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So, in the hopes that maybe my words can help you in the same way Ashley & Johanna's have helped me...
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In a world where working from home has become the norm, remember to set boundaries (as much as you can), to take deep breaths, and to stare off into the distance (perhaps while dreaming of one day when this is all over).
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It might surprise you how much those little moments of quiet pause make all the difference ✨

We walked into , bellies filled with some of the most delicious sushi Milan has to offer, only to be asked, 'ragazze, ma siete maggiorene?'
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I declared, 'I'm almost 30 so you've just made my day!' and gleefully handed over my ID - only the second time I'd been asked to prove I could legally drink since first landing in Italy, almost exactly 8 years prior.
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It's hard to say whether it was the delight of being asked to prove I was older than 18, the delicious negroni, or the very best company from , but I for one think Camparino might just be one of my first stops when we get out of this round of the red zone 🥃
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Which bar can you not wait to get back to? Tag them below and let's share the love for Italy's bars, that have been brought to a standstill for far too long.
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PS. For all of you abroad, hanging out for your next Italy trip, save this photo for future reference! Trust me, it's well worth the wait 😉