Parisian Lessons for Life

It was just a year ago that I came back from my first trip to Paris.  It was the fulfillment of a longstanding dream for both me and my mom.  I had been thinking about and dreaming about Paris since I was a little girl, and finally was able to see that dream come to life.

I think, even had this last year not been so crazy, I would be reminiscing about the most incredible experience I had, because to anyone who has never been, it is a city full of history, culture, beauty, incredible food, wine, people, and unending places to relish and marvel at their beauty. 

But, given the difficult (to say the least) year we have all endured, I am especially impacted by remembering everything Paris gave me.

So, I thought I would share some Parisian lessons of life, and help impart some ideas for continuing to find ways to live our best lives.

Fresh is best.      One of the things that both my mom and I loved, was seeing and experiencing this belief and embodiment, that fresh is best.  Everywhere you went, there were markets that you could pick up a fresh baguette, cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables, and desserts.  Oh, mon dieu, those desserts!

But there is this simplicity and satisfaction that can come from eating so fresh.  There is a feeling of eating cleaner and more mindfully with these fresh foods.

“Rise up. Start fresh. See the bright opportunity in each new day.” -Unknown

The farmers’ markets that can line the streets throughout the week offer you the chance to constantly make healthy choices about eating… mindful choices, rather than being so busy, that the only choice is for food to be quick and convenient, which often means lacking in what you really need and deserve.

Even the idea of fresh flowers brings joy to my mind.  There are endless shops with the most fragrant and beautiful bouquets of flowers.  You could see people picking up the bouquets, along with their fresh food, and it just a simple reminder, that we deserve to give ourselves beauty and simple goodness as often as possible.

Maybe we can’t won’t always have the opportunity to cook a meal from scratch; maybe we don’t have a farmer’s market; maybe there are no fresh flowers near us—but then it’s more about finding the moments you can do something good for your body, bring something beautiful into your world, so that you keep your body and soul fresh, remembering how important it is for you to take care of you, feel your best, and see the fresh beauty all around you.

Let your body move, often.         Paris is a big city…full of districts (it’s prettier to call them arrondissements as the French do), that can be explored.  The city gives you abundant opportunities for experiencing all that it has, but it should be noted…people move through the city constantly, and quite frequently without a car. 

People walk, often and everywhere. They bike all over the city.  Yes, there are cars, but outside of our taxi to and from the airport, we were never in one in the city. You might walk to closest Metro station or to hop on a bus, but mostly,  there is so much walking.  So many of the days we must have logged countless miles, and yet, it seemed so easy to do, and more importantly, felt better to do.

We were constantly getting exercise, fresh air, able to see everything around us with more time, more detail, and more awareness.  It felt like such a simple process, but still added to our sense of truly learning the city, and yet doing our bodies well in the process.  (Not to mention that miles of exercise, not only does a body well, but counteracts any indulgence of the incredible food and wine that is always beckoning you to enjoy).

This simple, yet powerful lesson, is just to give your body the movement it needs, the chance to re-energize itself, keep you moving forward, and enjoying all life has to offer.

Enjoy your time.  I will say I think there are so many misconceptions about the French, and while I can only speak to my experience, I would want to clarify at least this one. “The French are rude”.  I heard this one from others.  I don’t know if it was personal experience or simply rumor that fueled this myth.  Either way—for me and my mom, this was never the case. And I think that brings me to another lesson.

I think Parisians have learned that people should have the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate their time.  They believe meals are to be savored, the time with company fully embraced, and experiences completely treasured.

So, with that…comes a bit of distance and time. 

“Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. You’re only here for a short visit, so don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.” -Walter Hagen

If, for example, you sit down in a restaurant…there is a respect for your time.  As Americans, we are constantly in a rush of trying to do as much as possible, as quickly as possible, in order to move onto the next item on our list.  It isn’t to say one way is right or wrong, just a very different culture entirely.

So, if as typical for Americans, you think you should sit down, order immediately, eat fairly quickly, and then move on…you could assume they are not attentive, or dismissive of you.  However, it is far more likely they are giving you as much time as you want, but never assuming they should rush you, because that would take away from your experience.

Parisians seem to respect your right to slow down, take your time, and fully appreciate an experience. You can simply sit, savor, and watch the world go by, as they do, and truly you begin to understand, that sometimes you are better for it.

This was one of the most valuable lessons I learned, because if we know anything from this last year, it is that life will throw you curveballs constantly, and force you to juggle multiple responsibilities at all once.  So, give yourself the gift of time, when you need it…stop and literally smell the roses, watch a child play, stroll through a park, or just sit and breathe.  You deserve to slow down, and push the pause, in order to appreciate your life.

Be authentically you—always     It seemed like no matter where we went, all around us we saw originality and authenticity.  The city itself seems to beam with pride and self-love.  It has a tumultuous history in its longevity, but it embraces all that it is, has overcome, and continues to be.

There is this beauty in the city itself, and in its people, of owning that sense of self, honoring who they truly are and embracing a quiet, yet beaming confidence because of it.

Maybe it was just what I wanted to see…but the way people described their city and the way they treated each moment as an opportunity they should seize, was something I wanted to capture. 

“By choosing to be our most loving and authentic self, we leave a trail of magic everywhere we go.” -Emmanuel

It was even the simple beauty, in the way the women wore their bold red lipstick amid an otherwise unmade-up face, or the men with their scarves draped handsomely around their necks with a casual flare that made you feel they believed in honoring each day to be their true selves.

I can find myself waiting too often for moments, and there appears to be this beautiful authenticity in Paris, to live life fully and authentically, as your best self.

Taking the lessons with me…everywhere I go!

I highly doubt these are only Parisian ways of life, but maybe being so far away from home, in such a beautiful place, gave me not only an incredible experience, but a new perspective.

These lessons are what I will take from my experience, in that beautiful city, and among its rich culture, incredible history, and prideful citizens, as my Parisian lessons for living my best life.  Sometimes, I think we can all use a reminder.

There are times, it can become so easy to get lost in the expectations of ourselves and from the rest of the world and push for more, that we forget to slow down, honor our bodies and souls, and enjoy a moment. We forget to simply enjoy the time, the experience, and the life we have been given.

Everyone deserves that chance, to stop, and appreciate the moment and all the beauty and opportunity that is in the world.

The one thing all of us do know, is that time is a gift, and since none of us have guarantees on our time, we can benefit from treating as many moments in our lives as possible, as something to be treasured and savored.  We can indulge in the simple pleasures of good company, good food and drink, history, culture, and beauty as often as possible. We can try to seek out fresh ways to live, try to always keep moving, both forward and freely, and always work to be our best selves, in every day.

We can remember we deserve the moment, the pause, and the chance to savor this life—c’est une belle vie! (It’s a beautiful life!)

Love and light to all!