An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life…
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
“One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.
“The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
“This same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
“Which wolf will win?”
The old chief simply replied,
“The one you feed.”
Focus on the good things, no matter how big or how small …
* Learning how to work the espresso machine AND the milk steamer … and not giving up after the first two tries
* Finding the fuse box when running the espresso machine and the radio at the same time knocks the electricity out, and clicking it back on
* Being able to watch French documentaries and understanding everything
* When your confidence is down, no matter how good your French may be, being able to not only find the Saturday market and walk there (and back), but also being able to ask for what you want (even in grams and kilos – eeeeek) and then celebrate your success with a café at the coffee bar … after buying your super decadent réligieuse, of course
* Dancing around the room to Duffy’s “Mercy”
* Sautéing potatoes in goose fat that you bought at the Saturday market
* Being served a sample of foie gras at nearly every food shop you go into
* Eating a hot baguette with butter alongside a large glass of Bordeaux
* Finally buying fruit … and eating it
* Speaking with the pharmacist in English only because she really wants to practice
* Cracking up to the Graham Norton show
* Listening to Irish accents via 98FM Dublin on iTunes
* Putting up Christmas decorations and blinking lights
* A freshly vacuumed floor
* The sound of a neighbor practicing “advanced” guitar or piano
* A warm apartment with a fun yellow leather sofa
* Washing your hair with Garnier pamplemousse shampoo
* Just sitting, studying and watching the weather change while everyone runs around filling up their life with “have-to’s”
* The scent of WC Net wafting through the water closet
* Watching the children ice skate at the Christmas markets
* Enjoying mulled wine and waffles with Nutella at the Christmas market
* Seeing all the smiling faces from folks taking time to marvel at the Christmas-decorated department store windows
* Discovering a Marks & Spencer on the Champs Elysées
* Older French men in berets
* Flirting with older French men
* Giving and receiving a bonjour and a smile from an older French woman
* Being able to talk to loved ones even when you’re miles away
* Simple lunches made with scrumptious ingredients
* SPENDING TIME IN FRANCE!!!
Biscuits + Brioche 