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Hemingway’s Beautiful Quote

If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast – Hemingway

Josh cried leaving these doors. My time for crying wasn’t much later.

It’s a big new season in a new place and as Josh said so beautifully recently, “We moved Nolan into his Parisian apartment, he has orientation soon, and tonight is the first official night of him no longer living at home. “Home” is a term of art for us, meaning where the three of us are together rather than a place, and in that sense we have the opportunity of many home moments with our collective move to France and Europe. But, still, this stellar human will now lay his head in his own place, start university, and launch his ‘next’. Life is beautiful. Hard and soft and deep and fun. Beautiful.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself, yes to the many different emotions, with one of them definitely being a constant current of thankfulness.

Cue Nolan’s time. He was not only ready, but he’s already giving thriving energy. It was such a beautiful day moving him in recently and he is well on his way.

Let’s make happiness your business by creating your authentic brand…

To the best of the rest of your life!

Life is good.

The Stars Aligned

The stars aligned.

We had been ready for years to move and explore again outside the US.

We loved living in Europe so much the first times (as a couple in our late 20s and 30s and also as students in high school and college), that we wanted to do it again. We had lived outside the US twice as a family, too, so there are those awesome memories.

A question like “Am I still growing personally & creatively in LA?” was something asked often lately (amongst other questions).

Cue Nolan applying to college both in the states and in Europe where last Spring he was between two of three universities abroad.

He eventually chose the university in Paris.

And it was then, in the kitchen (I’ll never forget), when I shared with Nolan that we would be moving — going to Europe, too. :))

He was psyched.

It’s our time, too, to live out another dream…to salsa by the Seine, to learn French again, to live in France, but also maybe in England and/or Spain…and, of course, to be physically close(r) to our son because that’s who we are.

There for one another if/when we need it.

But the stars. They really did do a thing:

We are empty nesters who are also parents of an only child…

One of us can work from anywhere and the other, after deciding on Europe, got a gig in London.

So yes a door or multiples are opening! Awesome.

But sometimes open doors have screens on them, or have knobs that get stuck. Normal. Happens. And we can fix those knobs, oil ‘‘em up.

It all hasn’t come without sweat and that’s what I wanted to share.

We still don’t have long-stay visas (no appointment available yet), nor are we finding the French rental market easy (at allll) for expats. Many hoops and almost impossible for those without visas in hand.

But here it is: dreams and what you’ve always wanted are worth it, you WILL figure it out. Dreams meant for us get driven by a different energy. Trust.

And we do… We do! (Again)!

**It’s romantic if you look at it that way. Not everythinggg has to fall into place for you to be happy. Forced to work or sweat a little bit is hot, too.

Let’s make happiness your business by creating your authentic brand…

To the best of the rest of your life!

Life is good.

Relentless (I Am) :-)

A focused optimism and relentlessness.

I’m relentless about my focused optimism. That’s what my husband says (helps us live longer is what I say). Some of what we’ve had to stay optimistic about since arriving in Paris:

Visas – they’ll come through!
Great apartment – it’s just a matter of time and talking to more people (vs going through relo services)
Missing fam & friends – they’re coming to visit, we’ll make new memories via new experiences!
Making new friends – it’s just a matter of time and talking to more people
Life – the best (if there’s hard stuff, keep steady…we only know how good it is IF we also experience challenge, let’s simply not over focus on it)
Love your people in all ways — through words, physical affection and in quality time (we don’t get more time but we do have enough of it right here & now)

Hi again from France! What dreams do you want to make true even through some challenge? Let’s do it together. 😉

Let’s make happiness your business by creating your authentic brand…

To the best of the rest of your life!

Life is good.

Lent Me Her Wings

Maybe you have one of these mamas? And maybe she’s still here or maybe, like mine, she’s not?

She (My Mama) was the one who pushed for me to live in France when I was 17, the one who was elated to see me go to Madrid for part of Junior year, the festive mama (always) who happily threw us a party holding back her tears when I moved to Holland after I got married and then again before our move to Mexico when her only and favorite Nolie (grandson) was three years old.

Fancy Nancy was always a “yes, go do that!”

I might be tearing up as I share this with you…

It’s honestly how I love and honor her (and myself; the saying yes to desires, to the exploration of that which lives in and outside me).

I know it’s something she can absolutely feel where she is.

This photo was me on the plane recently moving to France.

You lent me your wings and I use them…

Who lent you their wings? 😉

Let’s make happiness your business by creating your authentic brand…

To the best of the rest of your life!

Life is good.