I’m writing this from the South of France, a place I’ve returned to again and again over the years.
And sitting here, I think I finally understand why.
Of course, I love the food, the little villages, the markets, the way the light hits the buildings in the late afternoon.
But it’s more than that.
I like who I am here.
Years ago, France awakened a part of me that knew how to linger over lunch. Get dressed simply because it felt good. Notice the flowers spilling over a stone wall. Sit at a café with nowhere else I needed to be.
She taught me how to French Kiss Life. (#iykyk)
Somewhere along the way, I think I let go of some of her.
Not intentionally.
Life got full. I was building a business, chasing dreams, taking care of people, handling what needed to be handled.
And without realizing it, I became very good at getting things done. And life lost a bit of its magic.
Returning to France has felt a little like coming home to myself.
Not to some past version of me, but to the woman who remembers that a beautiful life isn’t only about what you accomplish.
It’s also about how deeply you experience it.
The long lunch. The beautiful dress. The conversation that goes on far too late. The walk with no destination. The pleasure of noticing where you actually are.
Maybe that’s why we return to certain places.
They remind us of parts of ourselves we don’t want to lose.
And maybe the real gift isn’t staying there forever.
It’s bringing her home.
So I’ve been asking myself:
What parts of me am I ready to return to?
And I have a feeling that question will shape a lot of what comes next.
From France, with a very full heart,
Some places don’t just take me somewhere. They bring me back to myself.
The woman I find there – she’s worth bringing home.
Meilleur Moment Cashmere-Silk Pullover Sweater
I packed this Meilleur Moment Pullover Sweater for France and haven’t stopped reaching for it. The cashmere-silk blend has a weightless warmth that feels indulgent yet effortless.
It’s become my go-to for cool evening strolls here.
How to Romanticize Your Life [From the Archives]
France has a way of reminding me that life is meant to be savored, not rushed through. This episode from the vault is about bringing that feeling home – to the ordinary weekday, your morning coffee routine, the walk with nowhere to be.
It’s a lesson I’m delighted to return to.
// TheEDIT
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