All through the years I have referred to my "vision" of my DREAM vacation---Paris. I myself am confused why I thought of it as such an impossibility that I referred to it as a dream. A dream is just a thought and Paris to me was much more than that, it was a REALITY WAITING TO HAPPEN. Anytime you put that much focus and energy into something you want, somehow it will materialize.
I just read and had heard Lizettes amazing post about her VISION of that car she wanted, her energy, passion and making room for it in her life and her actions to create it. And of course it came into her life. I need to watch my wording even more carefully, these are not just dreams of what I want, they are things that I am going to accomplish.
It's funny when you reach one accomplishment it is immediately replaced with another. So my "future" section in Feng Shui will now to change to what I am going to achieve next. And it will happen, perhaps not on MY timetable but when everything is in it's proper place for it to happen. When you reach one goal, strive for the next, it is what keeps our energy and passion in life!
How would I possibly tell all about my "vacation" in Paris? It isn't possible and for those of you that travel regularly it wouldn't mean much. What I can tell you I discovered after a day or so with my carefully planned list of things I HAD to do and see while I was there I had a choice: I could run around as I did the first day and "see" Paris or I could slow down and actually EXPERIENCE it. There is quite a difference and I'm glad that although I missed some things, I truly got the experience of it all. I had opportunities to meet some wonderful people including some Americans who were traveling frantically from country to country on almost no sleep to SEE it ALL. That's not possible and it's not what I wanted, I wanted the experience of a whole different way of life which opened me up to meeting French people and communicating with them about the way THEY live, their misconceptions about New York (some are almost as facinated with New York as I was with Paris!) and they shared their interest in the way WE live.
They don't understand much of it and quite frankly, after seeing a whole different way of living, I have to agree with them. They don't rush through anything, they EXPERIENCE everything. A place, a meal, their work (which most seem to enjoy). They truly take the time to use the time-worn phrase "Stop and smell the flowers." And wonder why we don't. They are refreshingly polite and pleasant to each other as they were to all the tourists. Their food is a work of art and is NEVER taken away while they are still holding their forks. Their coffee is savored, they stroll down the streets, they are not rushing through life and missing so many important and wonderful things along the way.
I have to wonder on my return why we are so frantic here? Why are we multi tasking to the max? If a hotel concierge is assisting you and the phone rings he will excuse himself, help the person on the phone and then return to helping you. You will not be rushed if a line happens to accumulate and I was more then happy to receive that type of attention and wait my turn knowing I would be greeted and not rushed. They have just in the last year opened their first Starbucks and it has already grown to five of them. Prior to that there was no hurry, you sat in a cafe and savored your coffee taking all the time you liked. They work hard but they enjoy their time off: Five weeks vacation. What if we dared to slow down and enjoy life a little more? Took a day off, spent more time with family and friends we have been neglecting? Would we lose our place "in line" or miss some golden opportunity?
I am re-evaluating things right now; maybe the golden opportunities are not the work we're missing, maybe it's the time that will become most important to us. Time better spent in the long run enjoying what we have instead of always striving to get more to "come out on top" in business. I'm still in my vacation mode, I guess and doing exactly what I enjoy doing the last few days--spending time with my family, reconnecting to the Activerain connections I treasure and enjoying every minute.
Happy to have you back...happy you enjoyed it!
No more wishing huh......?
Carole, It's so great to see you back !! You were missed around here (and I'm sure at home too). Were your children and dogs exuberantly happy to see you return?
Beautiful post and so very true. Having a French Mother , I know exactly what you are talking about. My Mother always told me as a child 'Don't wish your life away'. She is the epitome of enjoying each moment in life to the max , similarly to all of my French relatives. There really is truth in the saying, 'joie de vivre' !
Jo
I have always believed that we need to examine not only why we ourselves are so hurried -- but why we are demanding and presurring the people around us to rush.
How often do we feel impatient when we think a sales clerk in a store or a waiter in a restaurant is not taking care of our needs fast enough? How often do we give that clerk or waiter a little pressure in our attitude towards them?
If we want to enjoy a less hurried lifestyle, we have to allow the people around us to be less hurried also.
So that's where you've been! Isn't Paris a wonderful city? I was there about 5 years ago and had a wonderful time. I agree with you that the French do understand how to enjoy life and all its pleasures. We took the train from Paris to another city and while on the train, I watched an older couple eat their lunch. It was fascinating. They had brought the meal with them and it consisted of fruit, cheese, bread and wine. They savored every morsel and swallow, the meal lasted about 1 1/2 hours. Just delightful.
Hi Carole,
Glad you are back, missed your blogs. I am glad to hear that you had a wonderful time in Paris. You're blog is so true how we all rush. We rush our lives away. It is to bad that we in North America don't stop and smell the roses a lot more than we do.
David, I thought that too. I was extremely fortunate to have a French client and asked him many questions---they are actually very interested in us and the way we live and also very polite and friendly, even with the language barrier. Thank you for your comment.
Joan, we don't need to dream, we need to CREATE. Much more powerful, don't you think?
Sally, I LOVE your comment!! I thought I was in balance but I guess we all get thrown off sometimes and this showed me I wasn't exactly where I wanted to be all the time.....Go, girl!
Jo, I don't think I was missed at home at ALL :) No one around to tell them what to do? They probably loved every second! You are so right about the moments, even though I do it most of the time it is not ALL the time and that's what I'm striving for. I don't want to miss a thing! Thanks for missing me :)
Cheryl, Thank you, you make an excellent point. We are rushing so we push everyone else, it's a cycle I wish we could break. I know we all need to work but we need to enjoy life as well and stop pressuring other people so much.
Teri, I had a wonderful time and lots of terrific experiences. I want to go to Italy next year and I'm not dreaming this trip, I'm going to plan it! Want to come? :)
Laurie, surely I can drag you there one day---I think you would love it as much as I did! There is so much to do and see.
Lizette, Thank you, I missed everyone on AR too! I already know what I'm doing next, what about you? Make it something good again....no, something GREAT!
Chynthia, isn't it amazing? Literally EVERYTHING there is an art to be enjoyed and savored. That's why I slowed down, I wasn't going to get the experience if I rushed through everything the way so many tourists were. Besides, it gives me an excuse to go back because I didn't "see" everything :)
Trace, Thank you so much. We are rushing too much, actually if we slowed down a bit Road Rage would disappear! As busy as the streets are there, I didn't see any of that.
Carole...
Welcome back. It sounds like you had a great time. Good for you.
I already know that Parisians are a wonderful bunch. We could all benefit by following their example.
While you were gone I made some adjustments to my life. Funny. We seem to be thinking the same thing :)
TLW...ROAR!
Carole - this is one of the most inspired posts I have ever read. To experience a moment is not in our language. To have the best moments are. I think that is the problem with Americans.
Eleven years ago it was only a dream to raise my granddaughter and I hoped I would get the first three years, then I went to five years. It was then my dream became reality and we settled into forever. I do not know what I have missed because I decided to fully experience her, and I don't care. Thanks for sharing your moments with us.
TLW, Thank you for your comment. I would love to know, if you care to share, the adjustments you have made and if you're feeling better because of them. I somehow believe you are, your Intuition is so accurate.
Teri, It would be a pleasure to have you come. I kept thinking that I couldn't get away, either, but I made it happen :) My pictures are very dark, I am trying to lighten them but they did not come out well at all....it may have been that the weather, for the most part was very chilly and rainy but I will try to get a few on.
Sheron, Are you up for the next adventure? There are days and there are MOMENTS in days, the particular ones that stand out and sometimes I forget to live in each moment. You didn't miss a thing raising Haley, both you and she gained EVERYTHING that is important in life. What a treasure that is!
*A bit more on my Paris "experiences" in a future post.
It seems that God is giving us all a wake up call. We need to truly experience LIFE we only go around once.
I dream of going to ITALY but how do I get there without flying, hmmm...tranquilizers
Phyllis Pafumi