Full Life Expedition

A few days ago, I took my daughter to the presentation of Laura Imai Messina’s latest book, one of my favorite authors, in Rome.

The book, “Tutti gli indirizzi perduti” (“All the Lost Addresses”), tells the story of a real post office on a remote Japanese island where people can send letters to imaginary recipients. Whether it’s to a childhood teddy bear, the inventor of the hairdryer, a first lost tooth, a stranger glimpsed years ago reading on the subway in Rome, or even one’s future self – everyone is free to entrust their unspoken thoughts, long-buried emotions, and unexpressed gratitude to paper, addressing their message to this place that gathers all the “lost addresses.”

What I particularly love about Laura is the delicacy with which she tackles profound themes like grief or motherhood, barely brushing against them without weighing down the pages with unnecessary words, leaving room for the reader’s imagination. Originally from Rome but having lived in Japan for many years, Laura draws inspiration from Japanese culture and her travels, conveying through her writing a sense of personal growth that I deeply relate to.

Those who truly love to travel, going beyond simple tourism, know how precious it is to open their eyes, heart, and mind to new places, colors, scents, flavors, and perspectives on the world. This is precisely why I love traveling with my children. With my eldest daughter in particular, I’m starting to see the first fruits: an open mind and heart for new worlds, a keen sensitivity to details and emotions.

When my daughter expressed her desire to become a writer, I wanted to introduce her to Laura Imai Messina’s world. Although her books are still complex for a ten-year-old, the magical and delicate worlds she creates have deeply touched her. Her interest didn’t surprise me, especially considering that her favorite film isn’t Frozen but Roberto Benigni’s “Life is Beautiful.” Her vivid imagination comes to life when she’s free to invent stories, filling notebook after notebook with pages often containing surprisingly profound reflections.

During the presentation, one topic among many particularly resonated with me: the liberating power of handwriting. Writing an email doesn’t compare – there’s something magical about the moment ink flows onto the fibers of the paper. While finding the first words may initially be challenging, it’s as if a lock suddenly clicks open, allowing an uninterrupted flow of thoughts and emotions. Writing can become a powerful tool for healing our deepest selves, letting long-dormant thoughts and feelings finally take shape on paper.

At the end of the event, Laura provided a notebook where anyone could leave a thought. This was my daughter’s:

“To my future self: I wonder if I’ll be a writer, if my brother will become a pilot, or if my parents will still work together. I hope I’ll be happy.”

Introduce children to culture, travel, and experimentation. Let them savor new flavors, breathe in new scents, and discover new cultures. Teach them to love what they see, because even though the world isn’t always beautiful or fair, it remains a wonderful place to live – especially when treated with care and respect, when diversity is embraced rather than feared.

Teach them to express their emotions through art, writing, sports, or science. Help them cultivate their passions, not to feel out of place if they love something others don’t understand, because being different is a strength, not a limitation. And try to do it for yourselves too, from time to time.