Joie de Vivre

When was the last time you just explored your city and embraced it for all its character and charm?

For me, it was this past week. I visited places that I would normally ignored, or go unnoticed. From Centre Island, Bier Markt, to the Distillery District, Yorkville and the Harbourfront, Toronto has so much to experience.

Just the other day, on a very warm fall afternoon, I found myself sitting on a small strip of beach by the Lakeshore, in a Muskoka chair, wearing my suede autumn boots, no less.

The French have a saying that I've come to embrace. Joie de Vivre. I have on good authority from a French friend of mine that my French accent is actually quite good; if you care to imagine me saying this phrase!

This sentiment is explained as the carefree enjoyment of life, the joy of living. Most of us could benefit from embracing this outlook in our lives; to live for happiness. Buy a ticket and take a ferry to a distant island, or pull up a seat and order a pint of the best lemon tea beer in the city at a well known brewery. Whatever it is you choose to discover, do it with the spirit of living freely. You may even decide to talk to strangers and make new friends in the process.

In fact, this all started for me when I was sitting in a coffee shop, reading. A new traveller turned to me with his British/ French accent, map in hand, and asked what there is to do here. He got me to thinking in a way I haven't thought for quite some time... and the rest is history.

If city-dwellers were to have this open way of living, I'm sure they would lead lives with more internalized happiness. They may even care less about the little things (like slow walkers) that tend to get under their skin.

So, even if you're wearing the wrong footwear, live life, take a chance, get some sand in your brown suede shoes- joie de vivre! The city is waiting for you.

Cheers!