Dearest Opera friends, colleagues and students,

from the bottom of my heart: Happy New Year 2022.

May this perfectly aligned number find us just as aligned with who we feel we are and want to be, or in the process of becoming it.

Did you make your New Year resolutions? Do you know what you want, what makes you smile your most honest, unapologetic smiles?

Why, I have made mine.

Although this lady in the picture is me, on NY's Eve, sunbathing in one of my favorite meditation spots in my sacred, beloved motherland Apulia, that in the past few years welcomed me broken in her womb and made me reborn, as those of you who follow me on socials will know by now...

 I am moving to Milan (and way out of my comfort zone) to give my mission a better chance and a wider breath!
I am NOT comfortable at the idea, but feel like I owe it to my work.

Since I've made up my mind, things have started to move fast: I've moved fifteen times in my life, but never found the perfect house so quickly; good signs all the way!

Now, there is just one problem.

From Jan 10th 2022, I cannot use any other restroom on the national territory than my very own, in my (beloved) house, not even with a negative rapid test at hand made within the last 48 hours.

Such were the last Italian government dispositions.

Forget about public transports of any kind, bars, restaurants, gyms, Opera houses or museums - nothing too fancy on my mind:

I have to be close enough to my house in case I need to pee (or worse, you know) because I wouldn't be allowed in any public restroom.

The Italian government is holding me by my very own guts and bladder: it's either my house or the woods.

So I have a few questions for you, hoping that your wise advice may be of help and thanking you in advance for it.

1. I really want to go to Milan. Should I go anyway (it's a 12 hour drive from here and I am still allowed to move around in my own car) and just try to hold it in till there? I am allowed to and it is possible, as a matter of fact.

2. Should I undergo a medical procedure that is neither aligned with how I usually treat my body, nor with my living conditions - being a single person and a loner who works exclusively from home - just to be allowed to use a public restroom?

3. Is my body mine?

4. If not, whose body is it?

5. Should I then move abroad?

6. But where?

7. If I did, would that make me a political or a medical refugee? Or neither, or both?

8. From Jan 10, any cultural event here in Italy will be witnessed by people who all agree, at least on one thing. Is that ok?

9. Is art made and performed for people who all agree still art?

10. What is art becoming? Is there a pandemic type of art? And is it worth as regular art?

11. When was the last time you were in any public place surrounded by people who all agreed with you on something?

12. Did that feel good or terrifying?

13. Would you perform for an audience of people who all agree on something?

14. What if I go there and find out that there's no longer a there, there?

15. What if I don't go there and regret it?

16. What if I go there and the sense of losing my integrity spoils it for me? (I am that kind of person.)

17. Is my choice to choose for my own body reinforcing some sort of nonsensical social war. And if so, am I aware of the existence of such war?

18. Which is the most peaceful, as well as practical solution to all this: give up my dream to go to Milan? Give up my health care ways and beliefs? Give up my body, but keep my beliefs? And if so, would that inner surgery hurt?

(Because progress is always about letting go of something, in life.)

19. (Isn't it?)

20. Should I keep on paying taxes for services I can no longer use?

21. What would you ask, if you were me, for question 21?

The only answer I could find to these so far insoluble riddles was in fact a piece of art.

I was lucky enough to bump into it in a very public place where I am still allowed, for free: YouTube.

Wherever you are in your life, please remember that the best feature of a New Year is that it is NEW.

Nothing can take its newness away from it.

Which leads us to question

22. How do we make this year NEW?

Let's brainstorm together, and imagine: I believe we can figure it out.

Much love,

La Maestra

PS: Feel free to answer any of the raised points, or add more questions.