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It’s undeniable that the French culture is different from the culture in the US. With the proliferation of books like FRENCH WOMEN DON’T GET FAT and ZE FRENCH DO IT BETTER there is so much interest in how the French live and how it is different, so today I thought I’d share my thoughts on what I saw while in France. These are things you can do to create a French way of life, no matter where you live.
SLOW DOWN
It’s all about savouring the good things in life, rather than rushing past them. If you are at a restaurant waiting for a friend, look around and people watch, rather than getting irritated or staring at your phone. Study the menu. Really no matter where you are in your day, slow down and enjoy the good things in your life. Why rush around getting from here to there, when you can fully enjoy your life and be in the moment?
BUY QUALITY
Our culture seems to be all about the cheap. Everything can be bought cheaply. It’s made cheaply, it doesn’t last and there’s no joy in owning it. Think of a cheap purse you bought for $25. It was cheap, so there isn’t any excitement in using it, and then it falls apart after just a few months. You throw it away, and it ends up in a landfill. Contrast that with a purse you carefully considered. It was a splurge so you thought about it and saved for it. But when you bought it, that day was a celebration. Each day that you used it were filled with joy. It lasted, and you cared for it. You displayed it with pride. If I had $100 to spend on a purse or purses, I would buy one good one, rather than 4 so-so purses. Then I would enjoy using it every day.
SAVOR YOUR MEALS
We have such a complicated relationship with food. Fast food is king, and people are rushing through their meal on their way to something else. The French way is to celebrate the meal. Carefully consider what you will eat. Simple, healthy, local ingredients make for a wonderful meal. When you sit down to eat, talk, eat and enjoy. Watching TV while you eat, eating in the car, or looking at your phone while you eat make the meal a chore rather than an event. Taste your food, and enjoy it.
SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
There’s no joy in running from one event to another, or working until midnight every night. Remove the extra stuff from your life that are causing you stress. Keep the things in your life that you treasure most. Remove the things you don’t enjoy (if you can.) By removing the events that are just taking up space on your calendar, you can enjoy what you truly love.
LOOK YOUR BEST
You may feel like dressing up is too much trouble, but putting some extra effort into your clothes will make you feel better. It’s too easy to ignore your appearance because it isn’t important, but you ARE important. And the better you look, the better you will feel about yourself. No need to spend a ton, you can look great on a budget. Fewer, better clothes are the key. Don’t worry about the sales, only buy what looks fantastic on you. Still some days are just made for yoga pants.
These are my thoughts on how life more of a French lifestyle. Take what works for you, and ignore what doesn’t. It’s about savoring life and enjoying time with your family and friends. I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic.
I too have slowed down to enjoy whatever the new day affords. Today’s blog spoke to me to keep this going and enjoy life to the fullest, even in stolen moments that no one else sees. New corner’s to explore, collecting dishes and old pieces just to sit around. Here’s to a little more artful way of living. Enjoy and look forward to your blog!
Thanks Ann! That sounds so wonderful. You sound so positive and upbeat.
This year we’ve stopped saving for a rainy day. All of a sudden it hits you right between the eyes that the time to do whatever it is you want to do is now. That is my new mantra, “do it now.” We’ve talked about buying a new boat and yet we would always make our old one last another year. It occurred to me this year when my husband was close to turning 68, if we put it off yet again, how many years will he have to enjoy it? What did we save all that money in the 401k for? Unfortunately for us, our relationship with our two sons is not what we’d ever expected as one will not talk to us and the other one we have not seen in over a year. Aside from my grandson whom we are close to, it’s just the two of us. So now, we are planning travel while we both can and enjoy each summer day here on the lake with a brand new boat which was delivered the same week we returned from Paris for a short trip.
Not sure if that is considered the French way but right now it’s all we’ve got.
We’ve always appreciated the beauty around us, we savor the sunrise nearly everyday, the moonrise too when its there. We thought we raised our kids right, we were always a close family yet petty squabbling has torn us apart so we have had to learn to focus on the here and now and not dwell on the past or worry about the future. I enjoy reading about the French culture and hope to return to other parts of the country as well as Italy which we also love.
Margo, What you said makes a lot of sense and brings up things to think about. I have been struggling with my own thoughts and reading this only confirms what I’m doing is right. Thank you!
Margo, that really resonates with me. Life goes by so fast. Let’s ‘do it now’ like you said.
Wow!! Wouldn’t that be nice, just slowing down enjoying life and the good things we already have….
We always want more but never enjoy it when we get it because we are to busy trying to get more.
Wouldn’t it be nice just to appreciate the life we have right now then to look back and realize we could have had the kind of life we worked so hard for and missed it because we were working so hard ?
Wouldn’t that be a sad realization? Thanks for the great blog, lots to think about..
Daphne, I love that! You said it so well. Let’s enjoy what we have!!!
Thank you so much for mentioning the book “French Women Don’t Get Fat.” I owned this book when it first came out and realized a short time ago that it was missing. Be careful when someone helps you downsize. I wanted to read it again but hadn’t taken the time to search online for it. Your post made me take the time and it’s now on its way to me. Thanks again.
Oh ha! That’s too funny. I remember enjoying that book.
Thank you anita for these wonderful reminders to enjoy life the way the French do! I hope to go there someday and see it for myself!
Mandi, I hope you make it there too!
I have recently been attempting to change a lot of things in my life. This speaks to me as well. I have always been in a rush to do everything. I once had a coworker who said I did everything as if I hoped I would never have to do it again. Since I retired I really entered the period of my discontent and allowed myself to be angry because my husband and I have different ideas about retirement. I want to do things I never was able to do when I worked. He wants to rest and has no interest in doing anything. So…..I am doing things either alone or with friends. And I am going to savor them. I realized as I read this while eating my breakfast that I had finished it barely noticing that I had eaten. Ridiculous. Thanks for this eye opener.
You are so wise to go enjoy those things with your friends and to let your husband do what he wants. He wouldn’t be good company if he doesn’t want to go. Better to go with a friend who is thrilled to go.
I can’t afford to pay $100 for a purse and so far, my cheap ones seem to be lasting. I appreciate what you’re saying, but I live and love life for the most part in America.
Oh yes, I love living in the US also! I have no interest in moving to France, but I still like the concept of incorporating some French culture into my American life. I am happy you love life here!!! And thank you for understanding that my point wasn’t about how much you spend on a purse, but about buying quality rather than quantity.
What a lovely post and timely as well. I finally convinced my Type A husband to consider slowing down and savoring the time we have with one another. We’re in the process of purchasing a vacation home so that we can get away from the triggers that cause us to ignore ourselves and focus on all the things we feel we must absolutely get done before we relax and enjoy. Hmmmm….. think I may need to pull the trigger on some of those wonderful sandals currently discounted at the Nordstrom sale 🙂
Darcy, did you get your sandals? I just went to Nordstroms Rack and bought a pair!! Too funny!!!
What a great post! My husband and I have both faced serious health crises and find ourselves re- evaluating so much of our lives. Quality doesn’t mean money, but it does mean making the most of our resources and choosing those we enjoy.
Agreed that quality isn’t always the most expensive option. I am so glad you are evaluating things Janet, so you can make the best choices for yourself.
Thank you for this post! I am a retired nurse and spent most of my days working side by side with Doctors who would give orders. Some days I literally ran up the the hallway in the office to keep up keeping the patient rooms full while giving shots etc.. I worked in family practice. I still work but not in nursing, but find that everything I do I rush through it! Old habits! Now, I have to tell myself to slow down several times a day. I really do try to live in the moment now. I agree do things now before you lose your mobility and can’t.
Shelly, it’s so hard to change after you are used to that pace. Yes, enjoy life now!!!
I’m always encouraged by your wonderful words of wisdom! Your knowledge on all things French is amazing….your messages are always so interesting. I haven’t been on in awhile because of being so busy…..but you just reminded me it’s important to take time for yourself and the things in life that are important! Thank you Anita! ??
Roxann
Roxann, I’m so glad you stopped by!!
The French way of life, just like French decor are timeless! We all need to learn how to slow down, breath and enjoy the special little moments. I also really love your home and the pretty flowers all around. They’re such a nice touch that remind us how beautiful and simple life is if we just relax from time to time. Thank you so much for this reminder!
Anita, my husband and I decided early on to take the good vacations! I’m so glad we did because 8 or 9 years ago he had a stroke! About 5 years after that I had one!! He can’t drive like he used to and I’m not a confident driver, so I’m so glad we had the “good” vacations! PS..we were both under 60 when we had our strokes. Our family is very close, so we are all able to enjoy one another.
Wow Pamela, I am glad you had some wonderful vacations and it sounds like you are doing well now.
What a thought-proiking post. My husband and I have had the privilege of traveling to France several times over the last five years. In fact, we were planning a return when the virus confined all of us. We are totally charmed by the slow-pace of life there, taking time to save a coffee or glass of wine from a sidewalk cafe, enjoying leisurely dinners and doing around little hill towns. We are retired and after working hard, often in two separate cities, and experiencing some scary health crises, are determined to go our own way now. Not everyone can manage this, but I believe it’s a mindset more than anything. Thanks again for a great post.