bonjour from paris. retreat number one begins this afternoon with an “impressionists of paris” boat cruise on the seine departing from the eiffel tower. ooh la la. i’m over the moon about this brand new offering and can’t wait to bask in the many sensory experiences paris will offer our yoga, art + shopping retreaters {and moi}.

while waiting to board monday night, a fellow retreater and friend asked if there was anything i wanted to purchase in paris. i responded that i wasn’t seeking a thing. she proclaimed, “oh, you’re focusing on experiences.” indeed i am but i hadn’t put two and two together before she stated such.

experiences, isn’t that what life is all about? and parisians tend to do this very well. i hope to take a page from their book. i couldn’t wait for the farmer’s market at the end of the block to open today so i could pick up fresh fleurs {hello lilacs and peonies} and fresh produce for an afternoon salad. the above pics capture my finds.

while i sit here writing with the above view, i’m filled with gratitude for this experience. the opportunity to work and write in paris. the chance to fill my body with fresh food. the ability to hit pause and practice savoring. {ironically, i just downloaded the book savor: mindful eating, mindful life.} as i approached the farmer’s market today, i felt like a kid at christmas. while washing the fresh lettuce, same feeling. while placing the flowers into vases, ditto. 

life is about creating experiences, not accumulating things. we know this, but do we practice this? over the next few days i’ll be art journaling and sharing my goals for this paris jaunt. my plan is to have a large focus on experiences. and it began yesterday as i sipped my first pot of tea at a sidewalk cafe in the rain {pic below}. make today an experience. bisous. x