The End of Paris, but the Begining of Something Beautiful

Things are wrapping up for me here in gay ole'Pariee. I'm making the most of every second, seeing my last sights and making my last plans. Looking back on the whole experience, I would have to say my favorite moment was a very simple one... I was walking home on a warm day after running errands, and had to cross through the plaza in front of Notre Dame. As I was weaving my way through the sea of tourists who could barley take their eyes from the ornate facade of the Cathedral, one of the street performers was playing the theme song from Amelie on his radio. In that very moment, I felt like the song was the sound track to my life... my walk was steady, confident, my direction was clear, practiced, and my mind was calm... and in that tiny instant I felt completely and utterly Parisian! It was FANTASTIC... I was (am) in Paris no longer as a tourist, but as a resident, and it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

I have done some reflection on my life, and feel that I have really discovered myself here. Instead of trying to play a role that everyone else was playing or purse a path that was most traveled, for once I did exactly what I wanted to do. On a daily basis I followed my heart, and in the process developing into the person I have always been deep down, but too worried to embody. I have in essence accepted myself. I no longer care to waste my time pretending I like things I don't and go along with things I think are stupid. I know now I can do anything and do not need anyone else to do them; when I want to dine at a restaurant, I dine, go to a museum, I go, learn french, I learn, listen to jazz, I listen. I feel so much more confident in my choices because I am not faking anymore. For a long time I believed you could BS your way through anything, and I considered that a skill of mine. I was wrong. You can not bull shit your way through everything because if you do, you never really do anything you want or feel proud of anything you do. You never get the satisfaction of knowing you did it just the way it needed to be done. Paris has given me that gift... I have done everything, lived everyday with true intentions, and now have had 5 months practice of being true to myself! I have been completely porous to Pariee's opportunities to live life and for that I am thankful.

Now I am returning home excited to have some responsibilities, excited to have more of a purpose, and excited to apply the joys of life I have experienced here to my future. I have been mocked for the title of my blog, but I can say in all honestly, Rachel's Joie de Vivre has come to fruition. The Universe is mine for the taking and I learned here that it is my right to be greedy! :)
Au revoir Paris et franchement merci! A très bientot j'espère...