A Moment of Calm

Winter officially arrived. After experiencing the holidays in busy cities such as Paris, Rome, Milan, San Francisco, Boston and New York, it was with immense joy that we did it that year in the calm of the countryside of the Luberon.  

Nature revealed her beauty in every direction. The light became soft and the color palette throughout our region was a reflection of soft ochre, muted orange, faint yellow, pale green, linen, grey, beige and a myriad of shades of mauve. These would all change the next day and remind us that if we did not stop, we could miss out.

The sounds of birds chirping in the almost-naked trees, the leaves falling to the ground before us, and the gentle breeze kissing our ears were as comforting to the soul as a mother’s caress or warm embrace. They were poetry of Mother Earth.  

A walk through the countryside was a living tableaux of art fit for the world’s finest museums, and was the gift that not only had no price, but was there for all to enjoy.

It seemed like only yesterday the almond trees were in full bloom.  Their ephemeral nature now revealed theiir life-force that stands strong long after the delicate pink and white petals had blown away with the last wind.

From this standpoint, we got a better view of the stream that lulled us to sleep every night.  What a contrast from the cacophony, or symphony, of a Parisienne soirée.

The still sounds of these passages were always there to comfort a busy mind, but only when we were present enough in the moment to take it all in. May the light, the tranquility and the softness of this walk through the countryside in Lourmarin bring calm to you wherever you are.  May you breath in the scents of the fresh air and experience a moment of peace.  May it fill your heart with joy and bring a smile to your face.

I hope you will share that smile of yours with someone who might not be as lucky as you are, if only to bring a moment of connection to their day.

Warmest holiday wishes to you wherever you are in the world!