Feeling the Feelz: When Sentiments Linger
FRANCE
There are certain things in life that just keep their scent, even long after the bloom has come and gone. Particular people, places and memories can have this kind of longer lasting effect. Often when we think of an experience, both the runway and rearview mirror reflection adds to the longevity of the moment, if we allow ourselves the time and thought to lean in. Like all gifts that we love having in our lives, aren’t there those fabulous few that you just want to hold on to, forever?
Paris packs panache, and in so doing, holds up the infamous image it has. Sure, the monuments are one major contribution - from the opulent Opéra de Paris and the LV Foundation to the timeless talent at the Louvre and the icons which are globally gobbled up, this place has a plethora of picks that don’t dare disappoint. While Sacré-Coeur steals the show, the Olympic action, houses and vibe that covered the sporting ABCs including athletics, boxing, canoe and more, Paris has offered a platform that compresses time’s continuum by opening windows into the past and future with flair. Special too is the sound culture of work-life balance, the appreciation of art, wide walkways and people watching.
I stepped out onto the street as the aroma of freshly baked goods followed me too. The buttery bliss spilled onto the sidewalk, swiftly swaying others to temporarily change their direction and agendas. Here, the flavours are fierce. Bakeries, perfumes, oud and even the smell of artistry, camaraderie, discovery seem to gather one’s gaze and invite unplanned pit stops.
As I inhaled the lusciousness, I thought about that which lingers in our life.
Like an illustrious leader whose ways, words and wisdom construct a canopy of care that will be forever etched into our life’s narrative, there are certain sentiments that stay cemented in our spirits - and that’s perfectly ok.
I’ve been to Paris several times, but somehow, these recent rendezvous have left me in an awe that wants me to revisit over and over.
There seems to be space for feeling the feelz, for a focus on the foundational elements that make life enjoyable and worthwhile, an honouring of that which has come before and the building into a horizon that designs and disrupts. While it’s got its drawbacks, I’ve appreciated that I could linger a little longer before the itinerary catapulted me into another realm. Perhaps as a people, we want to only press pause with the clause that it’s in moments of elation, joy and jubilation. Like those who’ve experienced coloured and complex circumstances, there’s much to be said about the opening of ourselves that’s nurtured by also sitting with the strong sentiments that make us swoon. As we honour Valentine’s Day today, instead of placing our pounds or cents on the $14.2 billion trajectory of expenditures, perhaps we can consider what and who is worthy to douse our attention and affection.
May we be blessed with connections to places and people that leave long-lasting profoundly positive impressions on us, Happy V day!