Let things bloom: "Se sono rose, fioriranno"

Tips for living the good life, straight from Italian grandmothers

We spoke to nonnas and other experts about their best tips for la dolce vita.

July 26, 2026

Teresa Calia, 88, and Grazia Incampo, 90, are unlikely wellness influencers. (Courtesy Antico Forno Santa Caterina)

By Victoria Craw

As they roll fresh orecchiette at a bakery in southern Italy, Grazia Incampo, 90, and Teresa Calia, 88, look more like lifelong pasta makers than social media stars.

The best friends, who have known each other since they were children, have become unlikely wellness influencers for “nonna-maxxing,” a social media trend that celebrates living like an Italian grandmother: always having a friend nearby, throwing away almost nothing and finding countless uses for olive oil.

Timeless advice from an Italian grandmother (nonna) focuses on simple living, eating together, and working hard: feed people to show love, never waste food, and let things that are meant for you happen naturally. 

Food and Daily Life

Cook with love: Food is the primary way to care for the people around you.
Never waste anything: Old bread can always be turned into a delicious meal.
Eat together: Always share your table and never rush a meal with family.
Keep olive oil close: It fixes dry skin when you have nothing else. 

Mindset and Patience

Let things bloom: "Se sono rose, fioriranno"—if something is meant for you, it will happen in its own time without forcing it.
Do the work: If you asked for a goal, put your head down and do the hard work without complaining.
Do good quietly: Help people because it is right, not to get praise.
Save your energy: Do not waste time arguing with people who refuse to understand you.