When are you ready to bloom?
A new newsletter, insights from a must-read-book + inspirations
Hello everyone,
and welcome to the very first post of this new newsletter. We will talk about music, books, events and other things. Here you can find more info and if you want to subscribe right away, here’s the special button!
I was thinking a lot about the possibility of launching a new project and this time in English. The main reason is that I really love to get in touch with people from all over the world. Learning from different cultures, traditions and points of view is so enriching. And also because I think that this could be a good place to talk more about Italy, beyond spaghetti, pizza and mandolino :)
Here we are going to talk about universal themes such as books, movies, music and so much more that cultural exchange is really a good thing. And yes, English is the right language for this mission!
So let’s start with the first real session of what I’ve learned this week. Rich Karlgaard is the Editor-at-large of Forbes USA and he knows very well the famous list of “Influential people under 30, 40” and so on. Well, this book explores the opposite phenomenon, aka the “late blooming”.
Society glorifies early achievement, pressuring individuals to succeed quickly, starting from the race for competition, prestigious jobs and so on. However, many individuals thrive later in life, with remarkable success after their supposed "prime."
“Late Bloomers” (available only in English) challenges this obsession with precocity and argues for the power of patience, perseverance, and discovering your unique path in your own time.
Some names
Sometimes great artist that shine early burn out soon, even if they are amazing. “Think about Fitzgerald - explains Karlgaard - who was already a famous literary success in his mid twenties. But that was his peak”. It’s not easy to manage your talent when you still have to learn things about life.
On the opposite side, in the team of late bloomers, we have:
Marina Abramovic, found her way in the art in her thirties, achieved national recognition at 54;
James Murphy, released LCD System first album at 35;
Martha Stewart published her first book of recipes at 42;
Susan Boyle was discovered at 48;
Vivienne Westwood (in the picture) started her business at 42;
Colonel Sanders launched KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) at 62;
Toni Morisson published her first novel at 39.
And believe me, the book is full of great examples like this!
Why aren’t you blooming?
So now you’re probably asking yourself a very important question. Ok, but why do some people bloom early while others bloom late? And what can I do to bloom now?
Karlgaard explains that sometimes it is a matter of maturity. Or you’ve just haven’t met yet that spark that lights up everything. Or you just have to practice your job, art, craft for more time. In any case, there are 3 advices you can think about:
Quit! - Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is quit a path that no longer aligns with your passion or purpose, opening the door to new opportunities
Gap Year - Take a chance to explore, reflect, and discover who you are and what you truly want before diving into the next chapter.
Find a better garden - "If you’re not thriving where you are, it might be time to find a better garden—a place that nurtures your unique talents and allows you to flourish."
Let me know what you think about it!
Audrey’s best advice: find something that makes you happy like a green ball!
Discovering Fiorucci
If you’re visiting Milan, you shouldn’t miss the retrospective at Triennale Museum (in the cover image) dedicated to Elio Fiorucci, the iconic Milanese designer and entrepreneur.
The show features over 500 items, including garments, photographs, and documents, showcasing Fiorucci's creative evolution and his profound influence on Italian fashion and contemporary art starting in the 1960s. A legendary eclectic mix of clothing, music, and art, with pieces of Keith Haring, and photos of events with Madonna, Basquiat, Andy Wharhol and others.
Open to visitors until March 16, 2025
🎄 It’s officially Christmas time, so we should close this first newsletter with the right soundtrack because “It’s tiiiime”. So here’s a live version at Jimmy Fallon Show.
Bye bye,
Stefania