I have been living in France for five years now, and it has changed my life for the better.
Some changes have been huge, and some small but all have been good changes.
For me, I had to move.
I couldn’t find a source of happiness where I lived, despite landing my dream job and finally getting on a path I thought I wanted to be on, but something was missing.
It was 2020 when we finally decided it was now or never to move to Europe. After discussing it for years we realized with the pandemic keeping us inside we didn’t know how long it would last or if it would ever go away.
So, with the stars aligned, we packed up our stuff, dealt with a lot of issues with ports and airports, and finally moved to France in July.
This is where my journey took me, it was always a part of me. My mother is French and I knew one day I would live here. What I didn’t know was moving to France was exactly what I needed.
It forced me to face feeling and what some would call a midlife crisis, though I’m not middle-aged, and discover I had found what I was looking for.
How Living in France Changed My Life for the Better
First of all, I do want to say that moving to France was the answer for me and it was right for my life. In order to create your own simple laidback lifestyle you don’t have to move to France.
The changes I experienced you can experience in your own life-where ever you are in the world-all you have to do is make a few simple changes. Take a look at my article on embracing the French laidback lifestyle here.
Forced me to slow down
and respect “personal hours”
Having once lived in New Orleans I was used to places closing in the early evening hours, for instance, during Mardi Gras stores close at six.
But what I didn’t realize when I moved to France was when there is a holiday, it’s a holiday. The stores are closed, and if the holiday falls on a Friday then they will probably be closed the next day as well.
Many stores are often closed on Sundays and Mondays. Schools are closed on Wednesdays and during the month of August, you’ll find many mom-and-pop stores closed.
Then there is this thing called “Congé” -it’s where the government requires you to take time off. Basically a forced relaxing period so you don’t forget.
Taught me how to experience life
I rarely went out into the world before moving to France. I don’t like the beach, amusement parks, or any place that is hot.
I know I sound like loads of fun.
Oregon felt so much like a training place for France. Moving here after living in Oregon wasn’t that much different for me. the beaches in Normandy are cool, and I absorbed it like a sponge.
I’ve gone to Versailles, Paris, pretty much where ever the train could take me. I’ve soaked up culture and leisure time.
Something, that I was not accustomed to in the states.
I’ve learned to do something that scares me every day and to enjoy the ride.
Retaught me the meaning of slow doesn’t mean lazy
I used to have issues with sitting still, so much so that I seriously thought I was suffering from ADHD.
Alas, that was not true.
American culture has a saying for work, “if you have time to lean you have time to (insert whatever)”. We think sitting down as a cashier is not working, it is lazy.
But I see cashiers sitting in Europe. There is more attention to care and wellbeing than presenting a hard-working persona.
Living in France has shown me there is no need to apply pressure to yourself, and just go with the flow.
The only way to see your life and experience it is to slow down. Embrace the big and small moments.
Taught me to love food (and kick eater’s remorse)
Despite growing up eating rather healthy, and pretty much skirting around the Standard American Diet or SAD, I have a sad relationship with food.
Even though I eat a ton of veggies and fruit each day, I still felt bad for eating a piece of cake. At birthday parties, no ice cream just a child slice of cake. Ice cream shops, a child-size scoop. Pathetic.
I’ve learned or relearned (reprogramed myself) moderation. I am now in a place where I enjoy having chocolate every day and I don’t feel bad.
I have ice cream when I feel like it, two scoops!
I also have discovered I’ve never eaten terribly on a regular basis, I just didn’t allow myself to enjoy what I ate.
But living in France gave me the gift of enjoying, loving, and embracing food.
I’ve even started eating foods from my childhood, such as muscles, certain cheeses with apples and so much more.
Work isn’t everything
You go to work, come home.
I was suffering from a mental breakdown, and then covid hit. I couldn’t figure out a balance between working and living.
Living in France helped me see there is more to living than working. I understand many of us do not have the choice to not work, but understanding that work is not our identity is huge.
I work to live, and when I am not working I am living.
In the end
Living in France was my answer to the struggles of daily stressful life. I’m stronger, more active, and more appreciative.
How living in France changed my life for the better was a personal journey that came with a lot of bumps in the road.
I feel more free-spirited, and ready to embrace all that life offers.
As you embrace the laidback French lifestyle, take with you this small piece of wisdom.
Each day, take a moment to embrace life. Savour the moments good or bad. Because in the end, your life is yours to create.
