SELF magazine<\/a>, New York-based psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert put it this way: \u201cThe appeal here is the fantasy of a life that feels grounded, warm and unhurried. A lot of younger people are burned out by the pressure to constantly optimize themselves, be productive and turn their lives into content.\u201d<\/p>\nOf course, the nonne of our imagination aren\u2019t always the nonne of real life. What we see as slow, easy and simple is actually undergirded by a lot of work: Cooking for the family, cleaning, taking care of children.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So while some may think the greatest lesson that the nonne have to teach us is to \u201cjust enjoy,\u201d it may actually be something different.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cranking a pasta maker may look quaint, but there\u2019s a need for it. Whether the nonna enjoys it or not, she has to do it. Her family\u2019s gotta eat.<\/p>\n
Maybe the nonna\u2019s secret to longevity is to focus her labor and productivity more locally. To feed and nourish those in her own circles, instead of grasping at the approval of a billion internet strangers who don\u2019t tangibly witness her as she goes about her life. Who can\u2019t smell the sauce she\u2019s spent hours crafting as it simmers on the stove.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n