This Month in Paris
Magic, Medical and Menopause - oh my!
Hi Friends,
I passed the one-month mark in Paris last week and on my walk today was thinking about how quickly time passes and what “being in the moment” might really mean.
This month has been, well, challenging. If you have read my previous posts, you will know that I have been dealing with the effects of what seems to be the menopause journey. I write “what seems to be” because do we ever truly know what is happening in our bodies? Certainty, to me, in all things is a myth or a made-up thing.
There is no certainty, only adventure, or change depending on the year, day, or moment.
Until recently, I had no point of reference for all the havoc menopause could potentially wreck on body, mind, and soul. I will say that I was lucky that up until 6 months ago I had been relatively little bothered by this chemical change that happens to all women but happens differently for all women. But I had no idea that some of my ailments from the last 2-4 years, that I was so diligently trying to find a cause for (my joint pain, “weird” nails, roller-coaster gut pain, racing thoughts), could also be laid at the door of perimenopause or menopause. I thought menopause symptoms were trouble sleeping and hot flashes. Wellllll, now I know better….and hopefully for the better so I can get better.
Right now I’m in the mode of learning all I can about menopause, sourcing books doctors, and research (which I will link below because I have found some great resources), and trying to manage and enjoy life. Which is taking place at the moment in charming, delicious Paris, France.
The biggest impact on me recently, in the last month, was the return of my anxiety. I call it anxiety because I don’t really know what else to call it. I’ve never felt like this in my life so it’s hard to define. But I feel physically out of my body at times, very heightened emotionally and it comes on very suddenly, and that has been a wholly uncomfortable place to be. I want a quick solution - something that will make me feel like myself again and I have been consulting all manner of doctors here in Paris and back in Australia (where I spent the first part of the year).
But I realized in the last week that this thing I’m going through is likely a marathon and not a sprint and I need to lean into and meet myself where I am.
No matter how uncomfortable that is.
Anger doesn’t help (oh, believe me, I have tried anger) and frustration doesn’t help. Talking kindly to myself definitely does help. And working with a very gifted acupuncturist here in Paris (so thankful I found him) has been extremely helpful.
Gahhh. Do I still wish at moments for all of this to “go away”? God, that would be amazing. And perhaps it will. But I’m in this now and I’m finding that I am hungry for more information on this time of my life, one that will come for all women, at all different ages depending on their own bodies and circumstances. I have found perimenopause/menopause is very individual for every single woman and there is no magic cure or one-size-fits-all solution for working through it. Experiencing this has woken up something in me - something that longs to learn all I can and share what I learn with other women. This feeling is how I feel about defining success for yourself, for living your best life on your own terms, and for travel - very passionately. So, I’m working on gathering knowledge and I will likely share it here. So - more to come on that front.
Back to life in Paris - while I’ve had (a lot of) challenges, my time here has been so many other things as well: beautiful, magical, sweet, and delicious. Life is life. I’m here to ride all of it - as all things will come whether I want them to or not. There is no certainty other than that.
So while life is up and down and all around , this last week in Paris has been particularly sweet and I’ve enjoyed myself immensely.
While I was on my walk in the park this morning, on what is a stunningly gorgeous summer day, I stopped at a park bench by the lake and wrote a little list of my favorite things to share with you here.
Favorites
My park - I cannot overstate how much joy this park gives me on an almost daily basis (it is rare that I don’t walk in the park at least once a day). On entering the park the smell of the air is so fragrant with flowers blooming I often have to stop and just inhale deeply as I take in the beautiful views in every direction. I deliberately unplug from my music to listen to the sounds and calls of all the different birds, from the cries of the peacocks to the honking of the geese and the splashes from the water-diving swallows. There are people of all ages walking, talking, picnicking, practicing yoga, reading books with their dogs on a blanket in the grass. Groups of school children, all speaking French, running around with maps and identifying flora and fauna. There is so much life happening in the park - I absolutely love being a part of it.
The rain - it has been raining quite often this last month in Paris, which is unusual. I’ve heard people complaining but I have honestly loved it. The rain has been pretty soft (not torrential) and somewhat romantic and casts the city in a moody atmosphere that inspires my creative writing brain.
The light in my sweet apartment - I took these photos yesterday of the light in different rooms in my apartment. I am very comfortable here and feel so grateful to call this space home for the time being.
My twice-weekly neighborhood markets - tents line the streets and purveyors call to me “Bonjour Madame!” as they try to hand me a slice of fruit or cheese or offer me fresh fish. I go early and my first stop is to my delicious boulangerie where I queue on Sunday to get still-warm (I’ve been so lucky) baguettes.
My Acupuncture with Léon - a true healer I am so lucky to have found him. My sessions have been mood-altering in the very best ways and the results are long-reaching. His office is in an excellent neighborhood by the Marche d'Aligre that I love wandering in.
The Metro - I adore the metro in Paris beyond anywhere else I have traveled (maybe I adore them the same as the trains in Japan but I didn’t use them nearly as much) with city trains. I find the metro to be very convenient and easy to use. I feel confident exploring all over this dense and charming city. If you are traveling here soon be sure to get a Navigo Card for your metro needs - it is fantastic.
My epic day in Versailles - last week I finally decided I was feeling up to this experience I had bookmarked to go to Versailles. I am SO glad I did and I felt like it was meant because it was a perfect day. The Airbnb experience by a local company is seeing Versailles by bike and is an all-day excursion.
The Palace of Versailles is a 2014-acre property and is stunningly beautiful, full of wonderful spots to explore. The town of Versailles is very charming and a must-visit. Seeing it all by bike is not only fun but practical. The day included meeting at the train in Paris; getting fitted for our bikes; biking to the Marche in Versailles and having an hour to shop and buy snacks or lunch; biking to and around key spots in Versailles and special access to the Palace and gardens. My experience was this past Friday and it RAINED (in all caps) for the first part of the day. Not just a mist but RAIN. And I will tell you, I enjoyed every minute. First of all, we had the very best host to guide us, Ludin is an actress and history enthusiast and perfectly suited to guide us creatively and hilariously through our day. My group of 8 people was such a delight I can’t imagine having been with anyone else. We so enjoyed each other’s company and enthusiasm for the day (no one complained about the rain - we all embraced it as part of the experience).
We didn’t get to have a picnic as it was raining during our lunch but after biking through the misty paths from the back gate of the palace park, I ate at the very delicious and charming restaurant, La Flotille, and had the best latte I’ve had on my whole trip from the coffee wagon out front. We spent the afternoon exploring Petite Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet (my personal favorite), riding our bikes through the vast grounds to the palace gardens, and then finally privileged access to the palace and Hall of Mirrors. The adventure began with me out the door a little before 8 am and ended with me unlocking my door at 7:15 pm deliciously tired from a day extremely well-spent. 11/10 - all the stars - I loved it so much.
Lunch at the Bouillon of Paris - on Saturday I decided last minute to go try to find a new coffee spot (my journey of trying to find decent coffee in Paris continues - when I say journey I mean JOURNEY) and headed off on the metro with journal, pen and a book in my bag. I went to a very stylish but still very mediocre at best, coffee shop in the 3rd arrondissement, which is one of my favorite neighborhoods. After spending some lovely time writing and people-watching, I just started walking without a real destination. All of a sudden, it started to rain (luckily, I always have my umbrella in my bag). I looked up to see a crow tucked up on a ledge, at the top of a side street and as I opened my umbrella, decided to turn that way. I quickly found myself wandering in the Enfants-Rouge Marche - one of the oldest covered markets in the city. It wasn’t too busy yet and I decided, rather impromptuly, to get lunch at the very charming Bouillon of Paris, an off-shoot of the Butcher of Paris. I had bookmarked the Butcher of Paris after seeing @darciebakes of Lanaan Edinburgh fame, dine there while she was here a couple of weeks ago.
I so made the right choice.
I ordered the sausage and potato puree - a very Parisian dish that is rather unlike me but oh my goodness - such the right choice. Served with the most delicious sautéed onions this dish was my second-best meal of the whole trip so far (first being here). Pair that with a most delicious natural wine rosé and delightful conversation with my two communal-table companions, locals who were so chic and wonderful, my day was perfect - no notes!
That is where I will leave you for today. Thanks for letting me continue to share my entire ‘Pied À Terre Life’ which includes my challenges along with the charms. I’m most grateful for this space and you.
As promised above, here are some links to excellent resources for menopause and women’s health:
This Rich Roll Podcast with Dr. Lisa Mosconi
Dr. Louise Newson and Newson Health
Until next time, mes amis. Bisous.
So happy you made it to Enfants-Rouge Marche and had a wonderful meal! The day in Versailles sounds amazing. What a fun way to explore the area!
I SO wish I could have joined you in Paris. but this is the next best thing!