Endings, Beginnings, and What’s in Between

Wrapping up a year and celebrating another trip around the sun!

The end of the year, as the phrase itself suggests, represents a conclusion—the closing of a year, with calendar pages torn away and agendas crumpled and filled with what has been. For me, however, it feels more like a threshold—a beginning rather than an end—if only because December 31st is the day I celebrate my birthday.
It’s a very peculiar day to have a birthday because everyone is already celebrating something—some mark the end, others the beginning—and for a few minutes, the world seems to hang in the balance between before and after.

For years, I disliked having my birthday on such a particular day. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I learned to appreciate it, often joking that everyone unknowingly celebrates the birth of a special little girl born in Venice with fireworks, countdowns, toasts, and grand feasts. And yet, this very coincidence has, over time, fueled a kind of implicit expectation—the need to always rise to the occasion, especially on New Year’s Eve.

In more recent times, let’s say in my current decade as a thirty-something, I have finally accepted that it’s okay to say no to things that don’t truly reflect who I am. I’ve developed a stronger sense of self—not an easy feat to achieve in the first twenty years of life. And so, I’ve also learned to make peace with that infamous social pressure, which often expects us to perform and shine in every situation, much like the spotlight on December 31st.

As an introvert who needs time alone to recharge and tends to live more in their inner world than in the external one, I still find it ironic to have been born on the day most associated with group celebrations and social interaction. Over the years, this irony has taught me to embrace contradictions and celebrate the beauty of balancing introspection with moments of connection, even if on my own terms. It’s as if December 31st inherently demands participation in collective festivities. Yet, as the years have gone by, I’ve learned to appreciate this coincidence, finding my own way to experience it without feeling obligated to conform to something that doesn’t truly resonate with me.

It’s not always easy to listen to and honor your true nature. Life, especially for those who are curious and open to new experiences, adventures, and risks, often leads down paths never traveled before. Sometimes, it brutally confronts you with unexpected situations that require a great deal of energy, courage, and determination. Still, I believe these are the real opportunities for growth—experiences that, when looked back on, surprise you with the strength you found to face them.

For me, 2024 has been the year in which I witnessed two great loves bloom.

The first is my daughter, who, at lightning speed, transformed from a newborn into a beautiful little girl. I don’t have enough words to express what being her mother means to me, but it’s undoubtedly something that has completely redefined who I am. It feels as though I, too, was born again—this time on a beautiful and quiet day in March, as the first blossoms on the trees heralded the arrival of spring.

The second is the publication of my book, “Venice Between Kitchen and Atelier—recipes handed-down for artists and food lovers”, published by Elzeviro. This project, whose gestation lasted even longer than my daughter’s, finally saw the light a few months ago.
Both, in their own way, are the result of a long journey filled with dedication, patience, and love. Writing and photographing the book often felt like navigating a labyrinth, with moments of self-doubt and endless revisions. There were nights spent agonizing over the editing of photos and words, and mornings questioning whether it would ever feel complete. Yet, those struggles made the final result even more rewarding and taught me the value of persistence and trusting the creative process. They remind me every day how precious it is to have the courage to pursue your dreams.

I will talk more about this beautiful book, already available (in both Italian and English!) in bookstores, on Amazon, and on the publisher’s website, in a dedicated newsletter at the start of the new year.

With this letter, however, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has enthusiastically supported my work this year, who has placed their trust in me, shared their stories, and moved me with their words and incredible, heartfelt feedback.
I am deeply grateful for everything I have received and also for everything I have given, because I know in my heart that I have given all the good and beauty I am capable of.
With one more year added to my age starting tomorrow—and still being slightly shocked every time someone calls me “ma’am”—I wish everyone a happy end and beginning of the year!
If we all take just one moment to send a loving thought to another living being, perhaps tomorrow will be a new and better world. I send mine to all of you—may you be happy, safe, and loved.