Ahhh Paris.
Is there any place else truly as magnificent? To me, this is le meilleur des meilleurs (yes, I Googled it).
The Best of the best.
Endless charcuterie, espresso, art, gardens, tea, architecture, and the most beautiful cocktails I’ve ever seen at the Bar Hemingway inside the Ritz. This is where my love of champagne cocktails was birthed.
French 75 anyone?
There was a moment when I was in the gardens of the Louvre––sipping on a crisp rosé from the kiosk nearby as I sat in a reclining park bench––that I realized everyone around me was so calm. Enjoying the flowers, conversing with others, sipping wine and just…
being.
This was a stark contrast to the States where I have frequented several parks in big cities. (With no wine kiosks or reclining park benches to my now dismay.) And the people are not just being.
We are running, exercising, doing, going, hurrying.
We are always trying to fit it all in. No wonder we are so stressed and feeling like we can’t even take time to stop and smell the roses.
Thankfully, I have always been one to enjoy afternoon tea. But the reasoning behind it hit me hard this day. So many of us are not taking those few minutes to just breath. To have a moment of something set aside just for you.
It’s almost like telling yourself you’re worth the break.
Tea is great for this because it’s impossible to rush through. When I do this, it helps me reset for the next portion of my day. My cortisol comes down and I regroup to regain the mindset to go into evening activities and then Aperitivo hour (more to come on this).
I have started sharing this simple practice with my existing clients who feel overwhelmed and stressed on the daily. Reminding them it doesn’t have to take a long time.
Even 15 minutes of calm focus will do wonders for their energy levels as well as their mental clarity.
And let’s not forget all those wonderful antioxidants found in tea.
Guess what happened?
It worked.
They have all come back to tell me how it has positively impacted their daily routine to take that pause. They feel more calm, collected and actually experience more joy and energy just by looking forward to this task each day. Simple and enjoyable practices can be monumental in our wellness routines. And look for my next business venture involving placing wine kiosks and reclining benches in parks.