#2767 three things: inspo, no pressure, and a slow start

 1. The influencer’s influence. For the past few years, I have been following an account in Instagram called This French Life. It is the account of an American woman who lives full-time in France. Over the years, she has kindly responded to some of my comments. Of course, we are not friends, but she seems friendly and I like her site. Her posts make me interested in going to France.

This week, she has been posting videos - reels - that she takes while walking around Paris. Of course the scenery was beautiful, and what really struck me was how much she loves where she is and what she is doing. Seeing her love inspired in me love for my own life and for what I have going on. I have a small life in the suburbs of a small western city. My house isn’t remarkable, and I know that. We do what we can to make it comfortable and homey. My dogs are nutty, energetic, and all over the place, and I can’t imagine it any other way. I don’t get to see the Eiffel Tower every day; I do get to see towering mountains surrounding the valley.  It is a good life, and I’m happy here. 

It’s funny because I don’t feel jealous of Shannon’s life in France. I’d like to visit the country and wander around the streets of Paris, sure, but I’m good where I am.

2. Still reading. The good news is that I scored a digital copy of Other Birds, the book I got on a seven-day loan from the library. Now the pressure is off to finish it by tomorrow, because now I have 21 days. I’m good!

3. Changing the routine. I work in the office on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Typically, I will make myself a coffee to go on those days. Today, though, I changed it up a little. I got myself ready to go to the office pretty quickly, then I made my cup of coffee, sat at the dining table, drank the cup, and read my book for about 15 minutes. I would have sat on the deck, but it’s dark at 6 am now. No matter. I liked sitting at the table and having a slow start. I got to work on time. I didn’t miss having the coffee at my desk. On the contrary, actually, I drank more water today because the time when I would have been sipping the coffee, I was sipping on water. Wins. All wins. 

I won’t guarantee that magic will happen every time, but it was dang good today.