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New year, new life project
On the first day of the new year I took a walk around the house, smelling the fresh air blowing gently over the hills. It was the first day of my new life.
From January 1, 2012, in fact, I am no longer an employee with a relatively safe job, my contract expired and recklessly believing in my dreams I decided to take a sabbatical year and devote myself to my passion and a personal project: Juls’ Kitchen.
From January 1, 2012, when asked about my job I should answer unemployed if I wanted to stick to the truth, but I’d rather say I am a full-time foodblogger, food writer and food photographer, I organize gastronomic tours in Tuscany and I teach Tuscan cooking classes for foreigners.
It might be not the best moment, due to the severe economic crisis that Italy, Europe and the whole world are facing now, I reckon, but Albert Einstein said: Let’s not pretend that things will change if we keep doing the same things. A crisis can be a real blessing to any person, to any nation. For all crises bring progress. Creativity is born from anguish, just like the day is born from the dark night. It’s in crisis that inventive is born, as well as discoveries, and big strategies. Who overcomes crisis, overcomes himself, without getting overcome. I trust him, don’t you?
I want to take decisions, I don’t want to be overcome by the routine, I won’t choose the easy road for the fear of the steep climb, the brambles and rocks. I am a country girl, these are not the things that scare me. Am I reckless? maybe a little bit. Do I dream too big? I’ve always done that.
I want to make it, I’ll make it, not only for me, because finally I could have the life that I dream of, but for all those who believe in me and support me: first of all for my family, who took my decision philosophically, because for them the most important thing is to see a smile on my face, and I can understand them, since they taught me how to smile.
I owe this to my oldest friends, to those who were friends even when I wanted to be a forester, a marketing manager or a sport expert (no, if you ask, I have never wanted to be a model, to be honest). I changed my mind many times, but now I have found my way, and I am ready to follow it.
I owe this to the new friends I met in the last years, to those who are surrounding me with love, trust and enthusiasm, who laugh with me and at some of my foibles, encourage me with their presence every day with light hearted email correspondence and patiently explain the mystical mysteries of technology, listening seraphically to my passionate rants about the difference between muffins and cupcakes.
I owe this to those who share with me the same passion, the same job or the same dream of a job, and generously took me under their wing, showed me a way, weaved their dreams with mine to make them even more real.
I owe this to you who have followed me, leaving a trace or in silence, for almost three years, or maybe who have just found me, and do not understand what all this has to do with a cooking blog.
I’m happy. Happy, happy, happy, because now I can finally devote myself – body and soul – to my projects, even more than before. So there will be more recipes, more Tuscany, more daily life, more Giulia. It almost sounds like a threat…
So let’s start with some news!
- a new about me page, telling who I am now and showing a new haircut (new year, new life.. new haircut for a woman!).
- an up-to-date page with my projects: cooking classes, food tours in Tuscany and a special week dedicated to cooking and gastronomy at Verrocchio Art Centre.
- a video showing me, my strong Italian accent and my projects: Juls’ Kitchen
This is just the beginning: follow me here, on Twitter and on my Facebook page to see how things are evolving and to support my life project. Keep your fingers crossed and send me good vibes… Now more than ever I need to know you are with me in this adventure!
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Congratulations on making the leap and wishing you every success in 2012. It sounds like an utterly wonderful career move and I’m sure you won’t regret it for a moment. Love the new hair cut too, very brave! 🙂
Giulia!
Of course I’m with you in this adventure. My life is an adventure… Zizi’s Adventures! 🙂
I wish you good luck and success but I already know that you will be amazing because you’re passionate and you show me the way how I can create my dream job too! 🙂
Juls – I’m speechless. I have taken the decision to dedicate myself just to the blog a zillion times in my mind and once for real, and then I chickened out of it. This year I have read from so many fabulois bloggers about following their dreams, I feel so inspired and yet I fall back on my same old ‘may be after some months’ therapy. I’m so proud of you and so happy to see you made your decision and I wish you all the glory in 2012.
Love
Kulsum
Bravo Juls! I know, I just know you are going to do so well! You are absolutely brilliant and your photography stunning. With a kind heart and a beautiful smile you just can’t go wrong. I wish you all the best in 2012! Huge hugs my friend!!! diana
Giulia…
I’m really touched.
Really.
Because you remind me that I ought to myself first of all to overcome any obstacles and look deep in me and realize what is really important to me and my life and chase for it. Without stucking to matters that build a wall around me. A wall though, not so high as I think at first. I know I can jump on the other side and live my life. Be more decisive. More fearless. More me.
Thank you.
That is so great! I wish you the best of lucks. A courageous decision. I’m sure you’ll be very successful.
Cheers,
Rosa
Juls, you are a true inspiration. I will follow your 2012 with much interest, cheering you on all the way from Canada, and living vicariously through you. Wishing you EVERY success and much happiness! XOX
Brava!!!!!!! I enjoy your Blog & Recipes and wish you the best of luck in your exciting new adventure in life.
However, with the closing of one door another will open. Like you, my contract will be up for my job in Italy within 5 months and I will regretably return to the USA.
Professionaly I steered away from my passion for food and cooking for the opportunity to live and work in Italy and to connect with my family in Abbruzzi.
It has been a wonderful 5 years but it is time for me as well to embark on a new food journey and chapter in my life. I will return to the USA and pursue my passion for cooking and make a drastic career change.
Again, Good Luck and enjoy life to its fullest. I firmly believe that “if you work at a job you are passionate about you won’t work a day in your life”.
Ciao, Tony Di Buongrazio
I believe you are one of the luckiest people since I would love to live your wonderful life in Tuscany..the place I love the most!!! I only wish I lived in Italy so that I could attend one of your cooking classes…we travel to Italy every summer and my one stop is always Tuscany!!! Buona Fortuna to you for there is nothing more wonderful in life than doing exactly what you love to do!!! Un abbraccio from New York!!
How daring of you to go on this journey! I must admit that I’m too much of a chicken to do this. Many times people have told me I make such delicious cupcakes or cookies and they feel I shoudl start up a small pattiserie-style shop or online webshop. The thought of giving up my day job and being dependent on this scares me. I think it’s wonderful that you have enough guts to go for it!
P.S. Love the new hairstyle!
Congratulations and best wishes in your new life! It is always so exciting to hear about someone who is taking the leap of faith to pursue their passion. I have just started following your blog and am looking forward to visiting your beautiful area one day and taking cooking classes with you!
Congratulations for your corageous decision. I would love to visit Toscany for several days and have food leçons with you. Maybe I will do that.
I will be ansious for your recepies.
What a wonderful chance to do what you have always wanted! It’s fantastic that your family is supporting you so that you can do something you love. I’ll be sure to check back often to find out how your new fantastic challenge is going!
Congratulations on making such a big jump in your career – you’re truly an inspiration to me. When you’re following your passion in life, things generally work out for the best! I just wanted to wish you good luck – someday (hopefully soon, hopefully even this year) I’ll definitely be taking a Tuscan cooking class from you, and in the meantime I’ll eagerly be reading your blog (both the English and the Italian version, since I’m trying to learn to speak Italian right now…).
By the way, your new haircut looks amazing!
I’m so so glad you made the big leap my friend. I know it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one. Following your heart and doing what you love is the best thing in life anyone can wish for. I’m with you, listening, supporting, laughing, consoling, chatting, brainstorming at any time of the day, any day of the year. You are a big inspiration and motivation to me, and I know you will succeed in anything you do.
Buona Fortuna Giulia – A presto 🙂
Naturalmente siamo con te nel tuo viaggio!
A presto
Giulia – one more thing – I am sourcing pecorino from Giovanni/Giovanna Porcu from Podere Paugnano for http://www.tasteoftuscany.co.uk – and have met then twice – what great taste you have!
Like I already said on Twitter: may the New Year bring you the drive and strength to make things happen and make your dreams come true! Best wishes from Southern California and of course I’ll follow your 2012 adventures!
Ciao Giulia, I hope you don’t mind me writing to you in English. Even though I know how to write in Italian, I sometimes forget certain vocabulary words and have trouble communicating my sentiments. I happened to find your blog only yesterday (January 4th) from a tweet posted by another food blogger I follow, Sarka of Cooking Your Dream (http://www.cookyourdream.com/). I was led to your video and then subsequently to your blog. What a treasure! I’m in the process of updating my blogroll on my own food blog and will be adding yours. I have been traveling to Italy all my life as I have many relatives there (Rome, Treviso, and Tuoro sul Trasimeno). I want to wish you my sincerest congratulations on taking the leap to blog full time. I’ll be cheering you from Houston, Texas! The next time my husband and I are in Italy, we will have to come take one of your cooking classes! In bocca al lupo! xoxo
I posted this on New Year’s and it seems apropos to your new life:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” –Goethe
Cudos to you for living your passion. I can’t wait to see what is in store for you next.
I’m so happy for you Giulia, you are a very brave and passionate woman and I know you will do great things with your dream!
This year will be truly amazing for you and I can’t wait to see where you will end up. You are an Italian national treasure, they better hold on to you very tight!
Lots of love, and the best of luck
Follow your heart, always
xxx
congratulations on your big decision and best wishes. I am sure you will do great. It was fun to see a little video of you, you are so sweet!
Giulia, I wish you all luck in yours new decisions! We absolutely want more Tuscany and more recipes 🙂
Congrats – this is very exciting! I cannot wait to follow along on your journey! Happy New Year!
Giulia…sei splendida!sono felicissima sentire la tua dolce voce e sentire i tuoi nuovo progetti qui. You are super talented and I hope this year on my trip to Italy I can sneak over to Tuscany and meet you.xx