14.28 - How do you challenge yourself? Resilience, Persistence, Determination... life, passion, adventure & France.
In this FREE le Bulletin we travel to Toulouse, Paris, and even to Rome and Wales. We challenge ourselves in different ways, and dive into two constants of life in France: writing and bread.
Bonjour
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Judy - 20.7.24
1. How do you challenge yourself? Resilience, Persistence, Determination ... life, passion, adventure & France
“The world is not in your books and maps, it is out there.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
What a week!
On Friday a surprisingly large part of the world was plunged into an IT meltdown.
A little-known computer program triggered an IT meltdown that took down digital infrastructure on a global scale.
Seemingly all at once, millions of computers around the world became unusable and unable to be rebooted, showing what's known in the industry as the "Blue Screen of Death". This caused chaos! The system/s that we live by… that we know and rely upon, had failed! Initially, the cause was thought to be a cyberattack or the like, but as I write it seems that one bug in one piece of cyber security software created the problem. This meltdown or what felt like a meltdown highlighted the way we take for granted systems and processes that enable our lives.
This was a great reminder of how the very systems upon which much of our lives are built make us vulnerable too…
I took a moment to consider… I was also reminded of the importance of resilience! The ability to withstand shock and to bounce back quickly. A powerful human trait.
Shocks such as these, and longer-term shocks, such as the covid pandemic cause/d us to pause, consider, and reassess life. Reassess the little things and certainly the big things. To reassess what is important to us.
I recently wrote of a few MyFrenchLife community members really challenging themselves - challenging themselves in different ways. I called them ‘Adventurers’.
Of course ‘Adventure’ is different things to different people.
To some, it’s walking solo for 2500km,
to others, it’s cycling from SW France to Wales, and back
to others, it’s gatecrashing a party (more on that another time).
But what is an adventure to you?
How do you challenge yourself?
I’d really like to hear how you challenge yourself. Please tell me your story in the comments.
Crazy, serious, or fun things, no matter what, please share them with me.
Here’s a challenge example. A serious challenge is this one!
Contributor Karen Bussen recently challenged herself in a big way and I quote:
I decided that since I’m working on reinventing myself after moving to France… I’d go deeper into the specifics of this very complex world in France. [WSET Level 3 in Wines and Spirits (that’s a global certification)]
Nobody made me do this.
But I really wanted to challenge myself, to confront something that was daunting enough to make me actually pay attention.
Do you ever feel that way? Like you just need to do something hard?”
- said Karen.
Background to Karen’s challenge and why you should be interested.
In our magazine, we’ve started publishing Karen’s
- A (Painless) Beginner’s Guide to Uncorking French Wine: The Loire Valley — Part 2 - [Part 1 can be found here]
With good wine qualifications behind her, Karen decided to take this more serious French wine global certification challenge. And she’s just received her results! [I’m not going to spoil her news - You can read all about it here].
Let me assure you that Karen is perfectly positioned to be writing this guide and helping us build our confidence… to understand, buy, order, and discuss French Wine, without the jargon and complexity. [you can watch her video below]
What a great example of challenging oneself—of persistence and determination! And yet another way to improve the quality and meaning of life after moving to France.
Congratulations Karen!!!
What a fabulous way to learn about France… from the terroir, before all else.
Don’t miss this short video message from Karen.
She explains how her new French wine guide will save you
from embarrassment and increase your ‘winetalk’ confidence
How do you challenge yourself?
I’d really like to hear how you challenge yourself. Please tell me your story in the comments. Crazy, serious, or fun things, no matter what, please share with me.
Now let’s find out what’s been happening at MyFrenchLife Magazine & le Bulletin newsletter this week.
2. I invite you to follow us on Instagram → @MaVieFrançaise
Our Instagram is bursting with news, views and articles, video chats, poetry, introductions to new magazine contributors… and more… follow us and join in @maviefrancaise … See you there soon, I hope.
You’ll note a few things here:
The centre image, of the path on the coast… ← Resilence
This is the weekly post on our MaVieFrancaise Instagram by MyFrenchLife member Jennifer Andrewes, who has already walked a total of 238 of the 2500km pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome.Her last post on her private FB group ‘Walking the Via Francigena’ was Day 12: Bruay-Ablain St Nazaire when she walked 28km. You can walk with her for the entire trek (virtually) and support her. I challenge you not to be amazed and inspired.
Such persistence! Such tenacity! So inspiring Jennifer.
The Centre image top row is a video…← Determination
Here you’ll find Contributor Karren Bussen, former event organiser and sommelier introducing part 2 of our :
- A (Painless) Beginner’s Guide to Uncorking French Wine: The Loire Valley — Part 2… as she takes us to:
- The Loire Valley: A Feast of Good (and Affordable) Wines and Magnificent Châteaux.“This series aims to help those of us who adore French wine feel more confident when talking about it, buying, or ordering it, with vocabulary and pronunciation audio. If you want to start at the very beginning, here’s Part 1, which is more of a general introduction to les vins français (French wines).
Part 2 explores one of my favorite French wine regions. C’est parti ! (Let’s go!)” says Karen.
Congratulations Karen.
And, finally, the bottom row… Life, Passion & Creativity
I introduce MyFrenchLife member, Kate Hill who, this summer and beyond, is offering, Creative Residencies, for all disciplines, at her superb Relais de Camont, a restored 300-year-old French farmhouse.
“A haven of quiet productivity in the rural French landscape, Camont near Agen is just three hours from Paris by fast train. The Relais de Camont is your quiet workplace in Southwest France. Self-funded and independent work is encouraged in a charming creative ambiance along a slow-moving French canal.” writes Kate.
So inviting Kate.
3. In My FrenchLife Magazine today you’ll discover 3 new articles - all featured below↓ ↓
Arts and Culture x 1:
1. → Looking for Hemingway
by Debra Campbell
Gastronomie x 2:
2. → Daily Pain: French life and the quotidian visit to the neighborhood boulangerie
by Valérie Helmbreck Mascitti
3.→ Toulouse: The 5 Best Affordable Restaurants
by Ally Mitchell
Un grand merci
Thank you to all MyFrenchLife™ Magazine Contributors!
CLICK THROUGH & read all the new articles on MyFrenchLife Magazine ↓
↓ Just click the image below to read all the new articles ↓
CLICK THROUGH to read the recent articles on MyFrenchLife Magazine HERE
4. “Thank you for subscribing ‘le Bulletin’ newsletter” Judy MacMahon
Judy MacMahon
Fondatrice
MyFrenchLife.org
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Wonderful reflections … and a lovely nod to our wanderings. We are holed up in a quiet retreat on the coast of Wales, listening to the rain hammer into the roof from the coziness of the bed. We’re on a ferry overnight Monday and excited to start pedalling on Tuesday. We’ve missed the gentle simplicity of life in our little corner of France.
In 2019, I challenged myself to write my first novel which I completed in 2024, while running my Paris based tourism and events company. I am now working to get it published in the US and France. Next goal is to prepare conferences on extraordinary women and female leadership, while winding down my business