How the French find Joie de Vivre in daily life.

“She wanted to live, and live fully, and to give life, she who loved life! What was the good of existing, if you couldn’t give yourself?”

― Émile Zola, The Joy of Life

Joie de vivre. A love of life. Joy in living.

The sound of those words lights the spirit, makes one want to gulp up life, travel, explore, laugh, love and enjoy. Ah!

Life’s lovelies flood France. Joy and excitement are walking down every charming street, sitting in every café. It’s simple, you might say, to be in love with life when surrounded by such adorable enjoyments.

But there is a secret, of course. It’s not that easy. There is a hidden switch: it’s simple to discover adorable enjoyments when one is in love with life. Joie de vivre.

As the summer holiday season spans before us, simple pleasures, when relished and absorbed, fully evoke the good life in France. You’ll find fragments of luxury, thoughtfully inserted, establish a refined sense of taking one’s time. I can’t imagine anything more calming, more centering that being gently guided to take one’s time (guilt free, easy with the pressures)… to finish this piece visit my wine column at The Good Life France .

 

 

photo: thirdeyemom