There’s an Italian word I’ve never been able to translate properly into English.

Godere.

Every time I try, something gets lost. You could translate it as to enjoy, but that feels too light. You could say to savour, but that only works in certain situations. To take pleasure in is closer, but it still doesn’t capture what the word really means. The truth is, I don’t think English has a single word that contains everything godere does.

In Italian, godere is much more than simply enjoying something. It’s about allowing yourself to fully experience it. You can godere a beautiful meal, a piece of music, a long conversation, a sunset, a kiss, a work of art, a glass of wine shared with friends, or even a quiet moment when nothing extraordinary is happening. It’s a way of experiencing life with all your senses switched on.

I’ve often wondered whether the existence of that word says something about Italian culture. Not because Italians have invented pleasure, of course, but because we’ve always given importance to the small rituals that make everyday life feel richer. Sitting around a table for hours. Drinking coffee without rushing. Talking long after the meal is over. Walking with no destination. Cooking not just to eat, but to share. There is something deeply human about giving time and attention to experiences instead of simply consuming them.

The older I get, the more I realise that this idea has quietly shaped the way I live my life. I love people who know how to godere. Not because they’re always happy, and certainly not because life is always easy for them, but because they know how to be fully present when something is beautiful. They don’t rush through experiences. They let themselves feel them. Whether it’s music, food, love, art, nature or simply a conversation that stretches late into the evening, they know how to be there completely.

Maybe that’s also why I’ve always been drawn to art. A photograph, a painting, a film or a piece of music can all create moments like that. Moments where, for a little while, you’re not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow. You’re simply living what is in front of you.

I sometimes think we spend so much of our lives trying to survive that we forget to experience it. We rush from one thing to another, always thinking about what’s next, rarely stopping long enough to truly absorb what’s happening right now.

Maybe that’s why I love the word godere so much. Not because it describes pleasure. Because it reminds me that life isn’t only meant to be lived. It’s meant to be fully experienced.