It’s official: the British are leaving the European Union.
And honestly, I feel sad about it.
I understand they weren’t comfortable with certain rules. I’m not always comfortable either.
But I still believe that unity creates strength.
Maybe it’s because I grew up in the 1980s.
I was raised with a strong sense of European solidarity.
And not just toward other countries, but also toward the regions within Italy.
Although, truth be told, regional identity has been fading.
Speaking in dialect is often seen as ignorance, and standard Italian is valued as a sign of culture.
To me, that’s a cultural loss. Like forgetting to salt the water for your pasta.
Living in Catalonia has helped me rediscover the value of cultural roots, and the beauty of a region that protects and nourishes its own identity.
It’s a shame that globalization tends to flatten differences instead of celebrating them.
Criticizing what’s different to feel superior is a trap.
And one that spreads quickly.
In doing so, we often end up turning against our own culture.
It’s like a competition for who’s best — and one that distances us from others and from ourselves.
Across Europe (and within many countries), the pattern repeats:
The north sees the south as lazy.
The south sees the north as cold and rigid.
It happens everywhere — even at a local scale.
We keep feeding cultural stereotypes that don’t reflect reality.
They’re prejudices passed down, rarely questioned.
Loyalty to our own group often feels instinctive.
It becomes “us” vs. “them” — the “barbarians”.
But let’s not forget: we’ve all been barbarians at some point.
We still are.
And maybe that’s the key.
Maybe it’s about learning to live among other barbarians, in all their flavors, languages and colors.
Because for many of us, diversity is a form of wealth.
If you want to reclaim your uniqueness and build more honest, respectful relationships with the people around you, Gestalt counselling can support you in that journey.
Thanks for being here. Wishing you a beautiful weekend.
