Buon Rientro: Finding Flow in September

"Chiuso per ferie" – closed for vacation. I love how unapologetic Italian business owners are about taking a summer break.

In Italy, rientro means “the return.” After August’s long pause when much of the country seems to collectively exhale for Ferragosto (August 15, a national holiday marking the peak of summer vacation), I’ve always loved how unapologetic Italians are during this time. Businesses just hang signs: chiuso. Often times for more than a week. That would never fly in the U.S. Imagine the outrage if your favorite restaurant or shop was just closed for a week's vacation.

Italians actually say, "Buon Rientro," (happy return) when the August pause ends and life resumes. Whether it’s a neighbor coming back from vacation, a colleague returning to work, or shopkeeper reopening, the phrase is an acknowledgment of transition. It feels celebratory, a reminder that returning isn’t just about routines or obligations, it’s about rejoining the flow of life. Italians mark the return in a way that feels thoughtful, almost like giving permission to embrace a new rhythm.

Fall and spring are hands-down our favorite times to spend in Lucca.

For me, rientro is layered this year. In about a week, we’ll be returning to Lucca. Our original intention was to have another extended stay, but other commitments and that pesky Visa limitation interfered. We’ll take the few weeks we can get. Last week, we visited our oldest in Holland, and we’re still pretty jetlagged; at this point, it’s probably easier to just stay on EU time.

The countdown to Lucca is on, and while we’ll be working remotely again, somehow the same work feels more enjoyable when done in Italy. It is also a return to this space. I haven’t written for my blog in a while, so even sitting down to post feels like a small ritorno of its own. Most of my blog posts are written while in Italy, which is probably not a coincidence—there, I’m inspired creatively in a way that doesn’t always happen back in the U.S.

September feels different for us now with a semi-empty nest. Our oldest is deep into his PhD, our middle son has graduated from college and is living at home while working, and our youngest is in his junior year of college. No more back-to-school nights or rushing off to fall activities, but still, it feels like a beginning, or maybe more accurately, a renewal. Years ago, I started using an academic calendar, yes, I still keep an old-school paper planner alongside my digital one. By the time I need a new one, it is always summer, which means I have stayed on that rhythm. Maybe that is why September often feels more like a renewal than the start of a new year for me.

This year’s renewal includes recommitting to growing direct bookings for Casa Campolattaro (so over Airbnb after a recent experience...maybe I'll write about it here), staying on top of my record keeping (which should help at Italian tax time, Ooof.), and taking on new freelance marketing clients. We are also exploring updates to Casa Campolattaro, so stay tuned once we get quotes on renovations and improvements. And yes, I’m still a little salty about the one unfair review that knocked us down from our two-year streak of a perfect 5.0—trying to laugh it off, but I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t bother me (mostly because it's unfair). Anyhow, my plate feels full, but nothing like the years of juggling three boys in school and activities!

We’ve been back in Virginia for a couple of months, and when I look back at that time, we’ve spent it connecting with friends and family and making an effort not to let every day feel like Groundhog Day or slip into the monotony of day-to-day life here. I can already feel the anticipation building for our return to Italy. My first session with Marco for Italian lessons just ended, and I’ll be starting back up at the end of October after a short break. Progress feels slow, but I’m staying the course and staying focused on the prize (citizenship once I can pass the B1 language exam, which means no more limits on my time in Italy!)

My drafts folder is bursting, yet hitting publish on my blog comes with a bit of hesitation—putting pieces of myself out into the world, even in small doses, doesn’t come naturally. On top of that, life here in the U.S. feels heavy these days, and that weight seeps into everything. Balancing the desire to stay informed with the need to avoid being consumed by the constant news cycle adds another layer.

Still, September demands momentum. It asks us to show up...for ourselves, for our families, and for our communities. For me, that includes continuing to support the Step Sisters, the breast cancer nonprofit I founded, which is celebrating 20 incredible years this year. Last year, we hired a new Executive Director to oversee the day-to-day operations, which has allowed me to step back from the details while staying closely connected to the mission. For the past two decades, September has always meant a lot of planning for October, when Breast Cancer Awareness Month accounts for roughly 30% of our annual budget. Every initiative, every fundraiser, every small effort during that month has an outsized impact, reminding me why consistency, dedication, and presence matter, not just in life, but in the causes we care about most. It’s a call to focus, to participate actively, and to honor the mission that has been such a central part of my life for twenty years.

Maybe that is why I keep circling back to the idea of ritorno. It is not just about routines or busyness. It is about returning to purpose. About recommitting to thoughtfulness, creating with intention, and offering something meaningful.

So here’s to September. To Lucca. To the return, to work, to purpose, to beginnings that always feel fresh.