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Francesca Cassi
Who are you and what kind of life do you live?My name is Francesca, I’m thirty, and I work as a freelance editor and translator. I was born and raised in the upper Susa Valley, then studied philosophy in Paris. Now my life is a blend of writing, mountains, travel, and teaching yoga. I work both from home and from anywhere — I like having the freedom to move around, following the seasons and the projects that come my way.
How do your work and your passions reflect who you are? How do you balance the two?I think my work and my current lifestyle are both shaped by my passions — especially my love for the mountains. I’ve created a way of living that gives me the freedom to climb, ski, ride my bike, and travel whenever I feel like it, organizing my work around that. Since graduation I’ve known the traditional office life wasn’t for me: fixed hours and a year‑round routine never appealed to me.I like having full control over my time and taking moments just for myself. It wasn’t always like this, but a few years ago everything aligned in the best possible way. Now I’m lucky — and privileged — to see my work and passions overlap almost every day, especially since I mostly work within the outdoor sports world. It allows me to manage both sides in a way that truly works for me.
What is the rhythm of your life?At first glance I’d say “fast,” but with some fixed points. From the outside it might look chaotic or exhausting because I rarely stay in the same place for long. But I do have my own routines and safe harbors.In all this coming and going, I actually feel calm — seen, fulfilled, myself. I love having constant stimulation, discovering new places, meeting new people, doing something different every day. I often find myself getting home, emptying my suitcase, and filling it again right away to leave somewhere else. It doesn’t bother me. And when I’m tired, I can always stop — sometimes I really need to.So I’d say the rhythm of my life shifts according to what I need most. It’s intuitive in its own way, very personal. I have a lot of energy, and I’m happy I get to use it well.If you could freeze one moment of your day, what would it be? When do you feel most in your element?I’d freeze two.The first is precise and quiet: my morning yoga practice. Wherever I am, before breakfast, I always take about twenty minutes for breathwork and stretching — at home, in a hotel, in a mountain hut, at a friend’s place, even in a tent, with or without a mat. It grounds me, and it’s one of those habits that helps me feel steady even when I’m constantly on the move.The second is more fluid: the moment I’m moving and doing sport. That always feels like a fixed point too — because wherever I am, I reconnect with sensations that are familiar and reassuring. Running, climbing indoors, practicing yoga, riding my bike… it always helps me find myself again and reset even the messiest day.What is time well spent for you?Not an easy question. “Time well spent” can take many shapes depending on the moment, but essentially it means doing what is right to do in that specific instant. Sometimes it’s something I want to do, sometimes something that makes me feel good, and sometimes it’s simply something I have to do even if I don’t feel like it. Accepting that makes almost any moment feel like time well spent.
What role does movement play in your life?Movement is absolutely central. It’s how I express myself and where I channel my energy. If I don’t move, that excess energy turns into nervousness and tension. Moving clears my mind and directs my energy toward feeling well.Sometimes I overdo it — it happens — but even that helps me appreciate rest. The time I spend alone doing sport is essential: it recharges me and leaves me feeling light and ready for anything.What kind of movement restores order in your mind?There are many, but the most effective is the kind that gets my legs going — ideally in nature or at altitude. I need a bit of disorientation, a breath of air in remote places, the challenge of different terrains. And when that’s not possible for any reason, my safe harbor is my yoga mat. It’s the place where I can really slow down and put my thoughts back in order.
What does simplifyingmean to you - in life, in work, in how you dress?Two things: accepting whatever comes, and not complicating things that are already simple.In my life, this means traveling light and being as independent as possible, staying spontaneous, giving work problems the weight they deserve — no more, no less.In my daily life and in the way I dress, it means versatility and efficiency: choosing items that serve multiple purposes, that are light, easy to layer or remove, easy to handle, and take up little space — pieces that can take me from a meeting to lunch with a friend, from the gym to dinner.
If you had to describe your life with one word, what would i be - and why? Energy. Because it’s the most precious and important thing I have, along with time. And that’s exactly why I try to invest my energy only in what I truly want to give attention and importance to. I don’t always succeed, of course, but it’s my long‑term goal.The spontaneous energy I have is what allows me to do all the things I love most, to show up for the people I care about in the best way, and to bring enthusiasm into every situation. I sometimes need to “recharge,” but I’d rather spend my energy than hold onto it and feel constantly “rested.”
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