Original work by Luca Ferrara.
The Intentional Life.
A collection of stories, essays, images, and videos on a range of subjects that are close and dear to me, all inspired by my pursuit of living a life with intention.
(Really, it’s a blog. I do keep an actual journal — every day, in fact — and have been for the better part of twenty years now. But that’s just for me. “Blog” feels too much like something crafted to build a following, which isn’t what I’m trying to do here. That’s why I called it “Journal” instead. Still, this is the part of my journal I’m happy to share. So, yeah — really, it’s a blog.)
(#030) On aging and renewal
Whenever we talk about self-renewal, it's impossible not to talk — explicitly or implicitly — about aging. If self-renewal is about change — not just in our behaviors, but in our identity — and if it’s true that self-renewal is never fast (because it takes time to truly understand what no longer fits in our life, and just as much time, plus trial and error, to reimagine what should take its place), then the question…
(#018) A dynamic pursuit: balancing Fulfillment, Public Resonance, and Financial Independence
When it comes to theories and protocols for navigating the complex relationship between career and life—and finding ways for the two to complement each other rather than compete as a zero-sum game—there’s no shortage of books, ideas, and trends.
(#006) On cholesterol and renewal
I knew I had high cholesterol for four years. The first time I came to realize was through my blood work onJanuary 6th, 2020. The doctor took a quick stab at calculating the probability of me coming down with a heart attack based on the lab results…
(#005) Hello tomorrow
I wanted to create something lasting to celebrate my pursuits this year, and I couldn’t have been more fortunate to have such talented friends willing to collaborate on this project with me.
(#004) The finish line
For many—including myself during much of my past—the end of the year didn’t feel like it came at the “right time.”
(#003) A bridge across
I can’t really say whether my life in the last 20 years has been successful, I guess one can’t really put the final word to it until the end, but surely I have lived adventurously…
(#002) Give yourself permission to be still learning
I have always struggled with perfectionism. Throw a pinch of vanity in there, too. I care deeply about the quality of what I do, especially if it may find its way to other people’s eyes and ears (or into their wallets.) That’s not a brag. That’s a confession...
China’s Dilemma: Between Growth and Reform.
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After 40 years driving a miraculous economic growth which lifted more than 850 million people out of poverty*, during the last few years China took a U-turn from from the policies of opening and reform it so successfully embraced since 1979.
Why?
I lived in China for over 18 years, five of which I spent meticulously researching the topic and collecting over 5,000 photojournalistic images, including throughout the times of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns
“China’s Dilemma” features a rigorously researched essay, with striking evidence of how the larger narrative was mirrored in my personal experience throughout the two decades I lived and did business in the country—and with the country—, and a thoroughly curated selection from my photographic archive.
* ref. 1979-2021