I recently returned from the most glorious 2 weeks of my life–more commonly known as our ‘honeymoon.’ (Side note: On behalf of my beautiful bride Laura and I, thank you to everyone who extended their warm wishes and congratulations; that meant a lot to us).

We were fortunate enough to spend time in both Venice and Tuscany. We were taken by the architecture, history, and romance of Venice; there is literally beauty layered in incredible detail, built into every nook and corner of that city, and it would take a lifetime to really take it all in.

Leaving Venice was difficult, to say the least. The blow was softened by the fact that we then traveled on to a small village that is located some 2 kilometers from Castellina in Chianti, where we spent a perfect 4 days in the midst of some of the most gorgeous country my eyes have had the privilege of seeing. Time was divided between food, wine, shopping, laying poolside, and gelato. All spent in the company of my best (and most beautiful) friend–my wife.

Now, in a ‘former life’ I had the ubiquitous title of “Director of Lifestyle Marketing.” If I had a dime for every time someone asked me, “What does that mean?,” I could afford to go back to Italy tomorrow for another 2 weeks. Truth is, nobody could actually define what exactly my role was at that former company, but they were hellbent upon doing so (another part of corporate America I despise–the need for “titles”). So, rather than be tagged with some unfortunate uber-generic moniker, I decided to ‘borrow’ a title from someone we knew of over at Red Bull. “Director of Lifestyle Marketing” just sounded more contemporary and less corporate, I suppose.

What does any of this have to do with my time spent in Italy?

Aside from the mementos we brought home with us, what we also took away was a massive appreciation for the culture of Italy and the Italian way of life. There really isn’t so much of a “lifestyle” there as much as a “living style.” It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: there is a difference between working to live and living to work. Just like the best premium cigars, the Italian way of life seems to have great balance. Work is kept in perspective and doesn’t dominate life. Shops and restaurants often close between 1:00 and 3:30 in the afternoon so that time may be taken during the day to enjoy family and friends, and perhaps a glass or two of wine. Sometimes they reopen after this ‘break’–sometimes they don’t. People don’t seem to be in a perpetual ‘rush’ to be somewhere. People take long walks and ride their bicycles.

In our society here, it often seems that everyone is obsessed with getting to the next meeting so they can close a bigger deal, so they can make more money, so they can buy a bigger house that will fit that bigger car. Family time often seems relegated to morning breakfast cereal, and in the best case scenario, a quick evening meal together before retiring to bed so we can awake 7-8 hours later, only to repeat the process all over again.

Quality of life–or ‘living style,‘ if you will–brings me back to what premium cigars mean to me. A fine cigar is about balance; much the same way life itself should be in balance. No single flavor note should dominate over the others. In life, work should not dominate, but rather, be kept in check behind God and family. To enjoy a premium cigar, one must actually shut the outside world off for an hour, and escape into a peace and solitude that almost dictates that you focus upon anything and everything except work. As the blue smoke wafts upwards, so too does stress and worry leave one’s body and mind. Great conversations are had over a cigar; old friendships are kept alive and new ones are often formed. In a way, smoking a cigar actually makes one ‘stop and smell the roses.’

Since my return home from our honeymoon, I’ve made a few personal commitments. Watch less television–read more. Continue to take long walks with my wife, work in the garden together, and spend more quality family time with our son. Cook more meals at home together. Spend every wedding anniversary abroad.

I hope that someday (soon) Crowned Heads will bring a cigar to your retail tobacconist’s shelf that will bring peace, enjoyment, and balance to your life–if only for an hour at a time. Until then, remember that today is a gift–that’s why they call it the ‘present.‘  Live for today, love your family, and Viva Italia!