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10 Cities, 100 Discoveries: 6 Parisian Speed
Someone famous said, “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” For me, it’s a new way of seeing things, or as Carrie, from Sex and the City said it’s reminding myself that, “[Everything] is just a plane ride way.” Besides, what would the journey, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, be without travel, or more specifically, 10 unique cities. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 Cities here and the entire project here. Enjoy the ride, I sure am!
Ahhhh, Paris, France. The food, the museums, the gardens, the culture, the drinking, the men, yes, all grand. Maybe, more than grand. But, my favorite part about Paris and for that matter, Europe in general, was the pace of life.
Paris taught me how to slow down. It taught me to take a walk, enjoy the wind and as cliche as it sounds, to stop and really smell the flowers. With a bakery, fruit stands and flower shops on every corner vs. a Starbucks, stopping to take in the fresh smells was easy. People watching in Paris taught me that beauty, happiness and pleasure really are all around us. In fact, these three things are waiting for us everywhere, we just have to slow down enough to see it.
Before leaving my previous job, I stumbled upon the quote “sometimes you have to slow down to get ahead.” I posted it on my office wall, but oftentimes I’d forget. I’d get caught up in the day to day minutiae. However, in Europe, sans phone, text messages and data roaming, I learned that a few hours doesn’t always mean a missed opportunity. In Paris, people look at you in disgust if you eat standing up or on the go, so I learned to take the time to sit down and savor a meal. Guess what? Stopping to sit and enjoy a meal sans starring at a computer was not only relaxing, but I also didn’t miss anything going on in the work world.
Back in The States, I now stop long enough to eat meals at my dining room table, something I haven’t done in 3 years. I have fresh tulips on my coffee table that make me smile every time I pass them. And, most importantly, I’ve slowed down enough to truly appreciate and love life.
Thank you Paris for letting me fall in love with you.
Posted in 10 Cities, 100 Discoveries
[…] sites, the incredible food and the culture. But, for me, my biggest takeaway from Europe was the pace of life. For me, slowing down and not rushing to the end destination is tough. While Europe certainly […]