Amour - A Different Kind of Love

Caritas means "lovingkindess" or love that comes from the Spirit. It is the Latin equivalent of the Greek word agape, which seems a good word to meditate on as we move into the season of Christmas. May the spirit of caritas fill you this month!

Amour - Just Say It

Sometimes speaking the words can be the hardest part of falling in love. Here on the streets of Paris one brave soul has taken the leap and just said it. Won't you do the same today?

Amour - Pure & Simple

Here's some love, pure and simple, and in English. This one was in the window of a kitchen and bath shop.

Amour - Reflections on Love

They call Paris "the City of Lights," but sometimes it feels to me like the City of Love. As I walk the streets of the city, I can feel (and see) the love everywhere I go. This week, a few examples.

Misc - Hope Café

This one's for Barack. Good luck next week :)

 [You can find it here.]

Mot du Jour - Shine

Another great word in a pleasing font. The City of Light encouraging all of us to SHINE!

Mot du Jour - Soul

Can also mean spirit. This is an interesting word relative to Paris. Sometimes I feel like Paris has more spirit, more soul, than any city I have ever been to. And yet, Les Parisians are not always as soulful as I might like them to be. They can be rude, dismissive, judgmental and vain. They drink and smoke more than your average American - although with more pleasure bien sûr! These contradictions hit me every time I go back and may explain my need to return again and again.

Mot du Jour - Yes!

And of course the flip-side of NO, is YES! Which the city of Paris seems to know. You're so smart Paris!

Mot du Jour - Say No!

I love this one: "Say NO!" As if the whole city is affirming your power to speak your truth. Go Paris!

Mot du Jour - Now

The theme for the week is "Words."

Maybe I am just not paying attention in the States, but there seem to be inspirational words all over the city of Paris.

Today's word is NOW. As in "Do It NOW!" "Live in the NOW!" "Be Here NOW!" It's like a constant reminder to my Higher Self. Just one more reason I ♥ Paris!

Words of Art - For a Smile

 

It seems like there is always something artistic to make you smile in Paris. On this particular day, it was an art gallery acknowledging this gift of the city. 

Next week, the unexpected charms of Paris. The ones that always make me smile :) 

Words of Art - I think of the day....

"I think of the day we taught the horses to cry." I have no idea what it means (or if I even translated it correctly), but I love the whimsical, nonsensical nature of it nonetheless.

[The graphic below may look familiar to you, it is by William Benhamou and I used a different version of it earlier this month. ]

Words of Art - United We...

Art is not just something that artists do in Paris; artistic expression is part of everyday life. The way a woman ties her scarf or smokes a cigarette. A man's tasseled shoes or the way his hair falls back over his forehead. 

The tiniest of details becomes supremely important and while this drives me crazy in the United States, for some reason I love it about Paris. It makes me feel whole and alive and at One with everything. 

It is, I believe, what unites the French as a people. Their commitment to art, to beauty, to the details of life. United They Art.

Sagesse - Carpe Diem

On the side of a bus this reminder to Seize the Day! Never a better idea than on a day in Paris.

Sagesse - St Vincent de Paul

"The poor are our masters." Saint Vincent de Paul was a Catholic Priest who devoted his life to serving the poor. He was canonized in 1737.

This quote reminds me of the more famous Ghandi quote, "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."

Sagesse - For Families

This was posted in one of the many churches we ventured into while walking across the city. "To build a family, it is important to evolve together, to move forward together, to come together."

Sagesse - From Andy Warhol

I have always found the city of Paris to be a deep well from which much can be gleaned about how best to live. On this trip in particular I saw words of wisdom all around me (and sometimes just words). This week, Wisdom from Paris.

And today from Andy Warhol this gem: "I broke something today and I realized I should break something once a week to remind me how fragile life is." Only the French would think to put this wisdom on a ceramic cup, so easily broken.

Shakespeare & Co - Sagesse

As you step up from the entrance to the main sales floor of Shakespeare and Company, this is what you see. A little wisdom from Paris. Next week, even more wisdom from the City of Light.