Healthy food is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but I believe there’s so much more to the picture.

Someone once asked me why Italians are so focused on food, and I explained that it’s not just about the food.  It’s about the people with whom we share that food. As we twirl pasta strands and sip a glass of wine, it’s that refreshing oasis of time spent with family and friends that replenishes our spirits as we laugh and share stories. When it comes down to it, it’s really what matters most.

Although people spend a lot of time talking about family values today, it’s not always reflected in our lifestyles. Career and economic demands force people to work excessively long hours and skip dinner with their families or pull up stakes and move to places where they must build a life from scratch. While it’s always good to experience new people and environments, if we’re lucky, our families offer us stability and so much more. They’re there to celebrate the good times and hold our hands when life gets too hard. They’re a safe harbor in a sometimes tumultuous storm.

Although it’s impossible to alter all of the stresses in your life, when you sit down for a meal, slow down, turn off your cell phone and appreciate the precious gift of friends and family. Your heart will be happier.

Image courtesy of graur razvan ionut/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.