Good morning!! It feels so good to be home! I learned a lot of lessons while I was away. Europeans live life very differently than us Americans and they see us coming from a mile away! They ask if we are American, but the truth is, they already know. We give off a vibe—most people think it’s because we are loud in voice and dress, but it’s more than that. The vibe we give off is that we aren’t as relaxed or fully present in appreciating the beauty of our surroundings or the warmth of the people around us.

I will share all of my lessons, but the first, and arguably the most profound, was the one I learned in Provence. Meals are a thing there. There is no rushing. It’s not only about the meal and your surroundings, but it’s about being present and enjoying the people who are with you. Dinners took hours. Nothing was rushed. At one dinner out at a restaurant, the waiter never came back. We finally waved him over to get our check and he explained, “It’s considered rude in France to bring the check without it being requested. That would appear as if we are rushing you.”

We move so quickly here. Are you working from your to-do list right now? What if dinner took twice as long? What if you didn’t even serve dinner until you sat down, had a glass of your favorite beverage, turned on some relaxing music, and chatted with your loved one, read a chapter in your book, or enjoyed the outdoors? We do everything quickly. We are on a race to nowhere. Europeans are not. It doesn’t matter where you live, it matters how you live. It’s a choice. Today I’m choosing to slow down, smell the roses, and Bach!

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!
Beth Fitzgerald