A Heart Shift I Didn’t Expect

Takeaway from Paris: A Heart Shift I Didn’t Expect

It’s been a week since I returned from Paris, and I’m still processing how much this trip changed me. I thought I was going just to see the art, the architecture, and of course , taste all the incredible food I’ve heard so much about.

But what I didn’t expect was how Paris would quietly shift something in my soul.

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The Stereotypes That Melted Away

Before going, I’d heard the usual stories that Parisians were unfriendly, especially toward Americans. But to my surprise, I found the exact opposite. The French people were kind, calm, and gracious.

Everywhere I went, I was met with warmth and a gentle sense of peace. It reminded me not to believe everything we hear sometimes the world is far more welcoming than we imagine.

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Life in Motion

On my first day, I was struck by how alive the city felt. People were walking, biking, chatting in cafés, and simply being together. Exercise and community weren’t separate tasks on a to-do list , they were a natural rhythm of life.

As I sat in a little café watching people talk and laugh, I felt something unexpected: sadness for what’s missing back home. In the U.S., I often see people buried in screens, rushing through their days, or working nonstop.

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Work to Live vs. Live to Work

I’ve heard people say Europeans “work to live,” while Americans “live to work.” Until now, I didn’t truly understand that difference.

As an immigrant who became a proud U.S. citizen, I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities in this country. But traveling through Europe opened my eyes to a different rhythm ,  one where life itself takes center stage, and work simply supports it.

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Bringing Paris Home

Since coming back, I’ve promised myself to bring a little of that Parisian peace into my daily life.

• More walking and biking , not just as exercise, but as a way to slow down and enjoy the journey.

• Simpler meals , less beef, fewer animal products, and more fresh, nourishing foods that make my body feel alive.

• Intentional living , working to live, not living to work.

I want my family to experience what it means to truly live: to breathe, to laugh, to take time, and to remember that success doesn’t always look like more , sometimes, it looks like enough.

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The Beauty of Simplicity

In Paris, I noticed how little people seemed to need in order to be content. The city is filled with beauty, but the real joy wasn’t in the possessions , it was in the moments.

Here in the U.S., it’s easy to get caught up in consumer culture , constant ads, endless sales, and pressure to keep up. But maybe true wealth isn’t in what we own, but in the time we give and the peace we create.

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A Quiet Resolution

Paris reminded me that life is a gift , one meant to be savored, not rushed. I don’t want to measure my days by how productive I was, but by how present I was.

So here’s my quiet resolution:

To live slower. To love deeper.

And to remember that joy doesn’t come from what we have , but from how we live.