This story begins when I was only 18 years old — a kid about to finish high school and dive headfirst into a Bachelor’s degree in “Classics”.
At that time, I was madly in love with Latin and Ancient Greek, so the idea of studying them at university had me genuinely excited.
There was just one tiny problem: my parents.
They didn’t exactly share my enthusiasm.
You see, here in Italy, trying to make a living with a degree in Latin and Greek is… well, let’s say it’s not exactly a fast track to fame and fortune. Job opportunities for ancient literature experts are rare.
But I was young and — you know how it goes — I didn’t care. I just wanted to become a great writer and a brilliant ancient literature scholar, no matter what.
My parents weren’t mean or anything; they genuinely wanted the best for me. They simply had a different idea of what “the best” looked like.
So one night, we had the conversation — you know, the kind you remember forever.
They sat me down and carefully explained just how tough it would be to make a living as a writer or professor, and they strongly encouraged me to consider something more “safe” — like Medicine or Engineering.
After that talk, I was devastated.
Part of me understood my parents’ advices were for my best. But another, louder part of me was 100% convinced that my destiny lay in Literature studies. I had this burning passion inside me that wouldn’t let me walk away.
Still, I didn’t know how to convince them — or even myself — that following my heart was the right move.
So, I did what I always used to do when life gets messy.
I turned to my literature books for comfort.
And that’s when I stumbled upon a letter by Giacomo Leopardi — a 19th-century Italian poet and, apparently, my spiritual twin.
Leopardi wrote this letter to his father while trying to escape from his home, where he felt trapped by his parents’ expectations. Instantly, I felt this deep connection: he and I were living the same story — a clash between dreams and parents’ expectations.
He wrote:
“I understand that happiness lies in contentment, so I find it easier to be happy begging than living with all the comforts of home.”
In that moment, Leopardi wasn’t just talking to his father — he was talking to me.
He was saying that true happiness isn’t about comfort or safety. It’s about following your path, even if that means sleeping under a bridge with a Latin dictionary as your pillow.
I kept reading, totally hooked, when another line hit me like a freight train:
“I want rather to be miserable than small, and to suffer than to be bored.”
Now everything was clear to me. Like Leopardi, I was sure I preferred a frugal but fulfilling life over a wealthy but boring one.
The next day, before leaving for school, I left Leopardi’s letter on my mother’s desk with a little note:
“Leopardi taught me this: I would rather be modest following my passion than bored with a doctor’s job. I choose to start a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature.”
Finally, my parents understood my deep reasons, and they let me do what I wanted without getting angry at me. I’m still grateful for that.
A couple of months later, I was sitting at my desk, filling out my application for the Bachelor’s Degree in Classics at the University of Palermo, when suddenly… a light bulb went off in my mind.
In that moment, I realized something that changed my mind forever.
A man who lived 200 years ago had spoken to me — through his writing. Leopardi gave me hope when I was discouraged. And he even managed to push me into action and help me change my life.
Yep, my life turned around thanks to a 19th-century poet. All of this happened only by reading his words.
And this blew my mind.
That’s when I understood the unbelievably awesome power of communication and teaching:
OTHER PEOPLE'S words can make YOUR life happier
I was so shocked by this simple but often overlooked realization that it basically became my reason for existing — my personal mission.
I knew I wanted to communicate with others and bring value to their lives too by using the power of my words.
I want to be for others what Leopardi was for me.
This mission never left me.
That's why I am starting this blog.
Unlike a few years ago when I was so interested in Literature, now I’m all about entrepreneurship, finance, lifestyle, and personal development — the real “big stuff” of our modern lives (you can read more about this drastic change in my interests here).
At the end of the day, I’m just a guy who’s a little obsessed with figuring out how to build the happiest and most fulfilling life possible.
And I’ll be sharing everything I find, hoping to drop some life-changing ideas into the hands of someone who needs them — just like Leopardi did for me.