Basic truths by Grit&Grace – a reminder of key life lessons while travelling.

Sooooo… it’s been a hot minute! Almost a year since my last post. So much has happened; to me, to you, to the world. Well, I am jumping back in the writing saddle and coming out guns blazing – stay tuned!

My summer vacation has been amazing so far. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to take time off and to expand my horizons in France, exploring both Paris and in Brittany in July.

Moreover, the pause from work and everyday life has allowed for other opportunities, such as a time for reflection.

One of the amazing things about walking in nature (7 days and over 150 km along the coast in Brittany) and being away from the hustle of everyday life, is the chance to not only to be alone with your thoughts, but to actually have time to process them!

As I walked through the scenic landscape of the GR34 from Lannilis to Portsall, I was thinking about the stumbling blocks encountered this trip and how they were overcome. It occurred to me that the same wisdom can be applied almost anytime and anywhere!

So here goes…

Don’t judge a book by its cover: Be open to new things and new people. Our first night in Paris, our waiter seemed to be somewhat uptight and grumpy. Instead of closing up and keeping to ourselves, we engaged and provoked a conversation. We learned much about the person serving our meal, and about life for someone in the hospitality industry in Paris these days. From a curt, distant beginning; the encounter ended with shared stories, new perspectives and greater understanding. Oh, and an unexpected photo op that attracted some stares and had us laughing all the way home! (No, I was not anticipating being lifted up for the photo!!)

Laugh. Laugh at yourself and at situations. Drop the ego and let go. Stuff happens, choose to see the humorous side. Life is hard, but when we can find the humour (sometimes we have to dig deep), we can also find reprieve and hope. Share the laugh with others. By so, you are putting that positive energy out into the universe. The photo of me with the waiter in Paris is not particularly flattering of me, but it does make me laugh – so I am letting go, sharing the humour and spreading the love.

Obstacles can be overcome. Where there is a will… you can find a way. Laugher helps, but so does flexibility. Learn to adjust, realign, scramble, brake fast and pivot. We planned this trip at Christmas, carefully mapping the locations where we would stay, based on availability and the reasonableness of the distance to hike to get from one village to the other. Full disclosure – while I did download the Omio app to check on transportation, I did not reserve anything. So, when we got to Paris, we had to find a way to get to Mont Saint-Michel and then another way to get to the starting point of our hike – Lannilis. While finding a way to Mont Saint-Michel was relatively easy – 2 buses all booked through Omio – the trip to Lannilis was a little trickier. I kept at it, and let go of my preconceived North American notions of appropriate transportation for 50 year olds… and with only 12 hours to spare, we finally ended up booking a car share ride with a woman from Lille, who was on her way to Brittany to vacation with friends and looking, at the last minute, for some company for the last leg of her trip. A few hours and a fascinating conversation later – she dropped us at the door of our hotel in Lannilis!

Language is a medium, but communication is larger than words. Shared experiences and a willingness to understand can highlight commonalities and erase barriers. Although I speak French, I do not speak the same French as the Parisians, nor the same dialect spoken by the people from Brittany. I was constantly receiving strange looks when I used terms such as: souper, salle de bain, de rien. However, I was reminded that this is not a barrier to being understood. I would repeat myself, offer a synonym, use hand gestures…and if I said “Oops – désolé!” the person I was talking to would almost inevitably smile and tell me that my accent is “mignon“. By being open to communicating – however we could – we had the most amazing conversation – a mixture of French, English and German, on a variety of topics touching on politics, psychology, history, family, technology, nature, Generation Alpha and travel – with a couple from Berlin, Germany who were staying at the same Inn as us, and the owner of the Inn, a woman from Greece, who now lives in Brittany. We all walked away from breakfast richer from the experience, and awash with hope for the future.

Walk. Walking along the coastline was a genuine immersion into the environment and the culture of Brittany. It was also a great way to slow things down. If you can walk – do it. Walking is a great mode of transportation – good for your health, both physical and mental and good for the planet. It also forces you to relax and look around. It allows you to be more present. If you can walk in nature – all the better. We chose the hiking trip in Britany – walking and being in nature, so as to allow for a natural reset. No bells or whistles needed: natural ressources and self driven. Walking back to our true selves, one step at a time.

Back to the beginning – lesson #1: Take a break. Step back and gain some perspective. Think about it, write about it, own it and grow with it.

Taking a break with #Grit&Grace.