Dear Universe,

About six months ago I purchased a little notebook, one small enough to carry in my purse.  On the cover of it is a graphic of the Eiffel Tower surrounded by a pink heart and the sparkly words, “Paris, Je t’aime.”  As I paid for it, a vision popped into my head—me in Paris with that notebook in hand.  Just as quickly as the image appeared, I shrugged it off.  I couldn’t imagine being in Paris.  I couldn’t even picture what I would be doing the next day.

And yet, I made it to Paris.  With the notebook in hand.  Funny how life works like that sometimes.

I love Paris.  There’s really nothing else to say.

Except….

Being in Paris made me feel closer to my old self than I have in a long while.  I don’t know what it was about the trip, but it brought back a little piece of me.   It also scares me, though.  I don’t want to go back to the old life I had—one where I was constantly going at a crazy pace and not having any balance.  I want the old me to be infused with the new me somehow.  The more thankful, more spiritually aware me.

Probably my favorite moment of the trip was standing on the top of L’Arc de Triomphe.  It was worth climbing over 280 stairs to get to the top.  Because once I was standing there, looking out at the sunny Paris skyline, it hit me that this was the most appropriate way to start my new year.  I really have triumphed and am proud of myself.  I felt so content standing there.

I even bought this tiny bracelet to commemorate the moment.  It’s a thin black rope with a tiny charm of L’Arc de Triomphe.  That way when I am ever in doubt of myself, I can look down at the charm and hopefully it will bring back a little of the feeling I had from way up there.

Other favorite moments were discovering a quiet park with the greatest view of the Eiffel Tower, arriving at the Musée d’Orsay to find there was an exhibit taking place with quotes from Oscar Wildes’ work, stumbling into a free concert at the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore and walking into the glorious Notre Dame Cathedral as a service was taking place.  All things I won’t forget.  Thank you.

And thank you Paris, for giving me back a little piece of me.  Je t’aime.

Merci Beaucoup,

A