Oh, Paris' Notre-Dame

There are buildings, and then there are symbols. What was quite transfixing about the events that unfolded before Easter in Paris was how people around the world, no matter their religion, were watching as Notre-Dame was burning. In fact, as I write this, it still seems surreal. Yet, the point being that a building turned into a symbol that for some had religious connotation but for others, it held memories, it held history and for others, it simply symbolized Paris to them, even for the many that had not ever stepped foot in France.

I was fortunate to have been to Paris this past January. Even though I had been to Notre-Dame some time ago, I decided to go in once again. This time, I took time to read about the history of the building, its evolution. Notre-Dame had evolved over many years to be what it was before the fire. In fact, one could argue it was still evolving (it was under renovation when the fire broke out). Putting all other aspects about this fire to the side, as there will certainly be more facts and information released in the upcoming days and weeks, there was commentary and conversations I had with friends about this that got me thinking. Here are some lessons to take away from this moment...

• Just Go For It - yes, you could take that trip next year or join that club tomorrow or even see that exhibit next time it is in town, but why wait? Why not go for it and experience it. In the case of Notre-Dame, if you lose something hundreds of years old (or more in some cases), you cannot ever see it again. Yes, you can see a replica, but not the item that was lost.
• Enjoy the Moment - when you do go for it, enjoy it. Take time to sit in the present and savor what is around you. It is so easy to get wrapped up in what your plans are next or what you have to do after this minute, so instead, try and take it all in when you are there.
• Detox - not from food but from social media, and if you can, your phone. It's amazing how many of us get sucked into our phones without realizing everything we are missing around us. Maybe you correlate this to a an above scenario or maybe you try it for 30 minutes each day - simply, set your phone down and see where the time takes you. Maybe you grab a book or magazine or maybe you begin planning your next trip or maybe you simply get back to basics.

How did the fire at Notre-Dame effect you? And, did you have any takeaways from that moment?

Until next time...

- Aimee

Also in Blog