The sun set and nighttime was upon us as we emerged from the subway. Navigating the city of Paris for the first time wasn’t as easy as I had thought. It was dark out and I had been traveling all day, so I was running low on energy. People crowded the streets filling the air with different languages and beautiful conversation. I smelled crepes for the first time, and the scent of fancy, French dinners. Beautiful architecture lifted my eyes to admire its authentic beauty. The evening rain left its kisses on the windowpanes, decorating the entire scene in a glossy ambience. Each streetlight glowed gently leading me towards a new experience every step of the way. It became so easy for me to let go in those moments and be swept up into this warm romance. Paris had its own way of introducing me to its beauty, making it even more memorable than what I could have planned. There was only a short time to see some of the sights before turning in for the night. I had never been interested in visiting Paris, but all of that changed when I turned the corner. I looked to my left into an open space and there it was, sparkling in the night like nothing I had ever seen before...the Eiffel Tower! My jaw dropped so slowly. It was like seeing what you could have only imagined in your dreams. It was the most beautiful twinkling sight I had ever seen! Its overwhelming size and beauty filled my eyes with tears, and my only thought was, "This is love."
Because of my personal experience visiting France and seeing the Eiffel Tower, Paris symbolizes unforeseen beauty. It was a moment in time that taught me the importance of experiencing life. Nothing can replace moments like the moments you experience for yourself. It changes you deeply and personally. I was genuinely impressed seeing the tower decorate the night sky, and I remember feeling so much closer to other cultures as there were many people from different countries standing around me admiring the same sight at the same moment in time. It was a beautiful human connection with complete strangers.
Life experience is important because it means you are participating in the most active and genuine way. You are gaining knowledge, information, and inspiration from the direct source. What could be more powerful than that? I don’t think a lot of us realize how much we need to see things for ourselves. That is simply how we learn. When something happens to us personally, we are the ones who know best about it. Those moments possess the strongest energy to move us. I think that's why being there makes a bigger difference than anything. Instead of watching a movie about a great historical victory, we can stand in the very place where it happened. In doing that, we give all our senses the chance to experience and make something significant from that moment. We are then participants in the great adventure, and with our knowledge and experience, we can create a great story from there because we have a real, authentic beginning. The moment something becomes personal is the moment we change a little bit.
I know I’m sharing a story about visiting Paris, but you can find life-changing experiences in your own hometown. Most likely, you already have so many stories to tell if you just look back on where you have been lately. Whether you are young or old, you have history. You have experienced life in a way that no one else has. You have your own perceptions and beliefs about it and that’s what makes your story different and worth sharing. If you’ve made any mistakes and learned from them, you can share that value with someone else who needs that one step you might have found along the way. Yes, travelling and seeing different countries is a magnificent way to gain life experience and see the world and I would encourage anyone who can to do that. But I think the best place to start is right where you are. Whether you believe it or not, there is something close by that you need to see or learn from. It’s usually closer than you think. If you’ve read about my story on the about me page, you will very quickly see that although I searched everywhere far and wide, what I was really looking for was right at my fingertips. So I encourage anyone who is searching for depth in life to be an active participant in life’s moments.
How do you begin actively participating and learning from your life?
Step 1: Be quiet. Yes, shush. Turn off the tv. Put the phone down. Pause your music. Plan a playdate for your kids so you can get some alone time. Whatever your greatest distractions are, recognize them and put them somewhere else so that you can have a moment to learn how to be quiet. In this moment, you will have many thoughts. Allow them to pass and remain still. This is the beginning of learning how to be present. Here you take some deep breaths, relax, and enjoy the act of breathing. All you do is be still, breathe, and be quiet.
Step 2: Master step 1. I am one of those people who want to succeed quickly, so I tend to learn skills fast. But when it comes to learning how to be present, it’s important to never rush. In life, you should never rush. Making decisions wisely and patiently is the way to go. That is how I practice being quiet and still. It is a discipline I practice almost daily. It has helped me heal from much sorrow as well as remain connected to my own individuality.
Step 3: Make time to live intentionally. It’s easy to get stuck in the 9-5. We have to work, raise families, solve problems, help our friends solve their problems, the list can be as long as you want to make it. In all the busyness of life, we should never miss the most beautiful part of life: living. We work so hard just so that we can. Living should bring a smile to your face. Living should renew your energy and restore you. So, go away for the weekend and spend it at the lake near your house. If you’re by the ocean, soak up the sun and rest on the sand. Go see some really big mountains and hike beautiful trails. Take time to stay home and have a night in with some good food. Read that book that's been on your nightstand for a year. Whatever makes you happy, if it brings you goodness and restores your energy, you should make time for that.
Life experience is experiencing life.
When the day comes where you must pass on, you want to look back and be able to say that you did everything that you could. You want to know that, although it wasn’t perfect, you had fun and you made a difference. You want to feel fulfilled and pleased with all your hard work. That is why I strongly believe that the most important thing that you can do is learn how to be you. If you know who you are, why you are here, and what makes you do what you do, you can learn to create what you were meant to create.