A Pizza-Themed Lesson on Humanity, from Naples, Italy
A heartfelt lesson from the city of rough edges, world-class pizza, and joyful embrace of life
Naples, beneath Mt. Vesuvius. Photo by the author. Check out my travel photography here!
I’m writing from Naples, the ancient city of southern Italy known for its rough edges, world-class pizza, and joyful embrace of life. I can attest to such qualities.
Last night I learned a valuable lesson about people. About community. About myself.
I had one rule in Naples, and that was not to eat at the same pizza spot twice. After two days, I’ve broken my only rule.
I stood outside of a famous restaurant I hadn’t yet been, waiting for my name to be called. The couple before me went. Then the one after. Then after.
Hmmm.
The man running the show and calling names, the same one whose face they displayed in the award-winning newspaper ad on the front door, wasn’t the poster boy of warmth and a welcoming demeanor.
I don’t know if he passed over me, and at this point, I didn’t really care. I was going back next door where I was graciously welcomed the previous night, damn it!
Screw our rules.
My server from the night before saw me from across the restaurant and sent a wink. I knew I made the right call.
With no wait, he set me up outside.
You could feel the energy and how it differed from the other pizzeria. It was less crowded, yet people seemed happier.
The staff, which I learned was a family, regularly waved, smiled, and chatted with neighbors and those passing by, clearly knowing and caring for the community.
As I’m eating, an older gentleman steps out of the restaurant with his family, looks down at this young and solitary student of life with a big smile, and shares a slow, bon appétit.
Grazie!
He didn’t know how he made my night.
Perhaps the famous restaurant had better pizza. Who knows.
But people are people, and we’re all, always, going through something within the confines of these complex souls — perhaps something large and seemingly insurmountable; perhaps something small, and rather irrelevant.
But it pays to care. You never know whose life you’ll save, make, or change from showing a bit of humanity.
Perhaps I’d remember a world-class pizza — but it’s cheese, dough and sauce.
What I’ll remember is being treated well, with kindness and genuine sincerity.
What do you learn from being alone? What do you learn from being alive?
How to be human. How to open up your heart. How to care for others. How to continue on, dear friends.
Where each minute passing is the turning of a page...
I’ll do the best I can in the moments I’m presented with a choice...
What I'm Listening To:
Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, by Daniel Gordis
As my final stop on this adventure is Tel-Aviv, I thought it important to learn what I can.
Just getting into this one, but if you're fascinated by history and the way the world's come to be, consider checking this book out.
Looking for your next favorite read?
Check out my reading list!
Fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, classics & contemporary guidance--it's all there and grows every time I read a book that strikes a serious chord in me.
https://vincentvanpatten.com/reading-list/
Latest Episode: DTD #78: Visit Yourself and Have a Good Time, with Iris of Calabria, Italy
Vincent spent three weeks working as a volunteer in Calabria, Italy, under the guidance of Iris. Iris is somebody that makes you smile, laugh, question and think. Mostly, for Vincent, about how simple and beautiful life can be.
Iris moved from her native Holland as a young woman and has lived in the south of Italy ever since, learning about the land, the people, and most importantly, herself.
Now, Vincent could undoubtedly tell that she’s a beloved part of her community, even as a non-native Italian. Her love of life is tangible, and every time Vincent spoke or worked with her, he, too, learned something new about the world, about nature, and even about himself.
Perhaps we don’t need much to be happy—we must simply discover what is important to us and follow it, seek it, explore it, and share that joy with the world.Iris now opens up her hillside property to workaway volunteers such as Vincent for those who want to immerse themselves in nature, get their hands dirty, and feel a part of something truly special.
This episode was recorded in Iris’s garden as a light rain began to come down. We hope it brings you some peace, perhaps some guidance, and a whole lot of joy...
Final Goodz 🤟🏻
🎵 Music lyric of the week 🎵
"Sunlight over me
No matter what I do."
—The Shrine/An Argument, Fleet Foxes