I have been spending a lot of time contemplating these last few months. It seems so much easier to do in a place you find inspiring. I’ve always known life is an interesting journey. Things arrive you never thought would, other things that were once so important seem frivolous over time. Friends show up, others leave. Change is the only constant. It’s truly fascinating to watch it unfold in front of you.
One of the things that has confounded me is the strange notion that where you were born is the greatest, best place on earth. This nationalistic pride seems exceptionally strong in the US followed closely by Canada. Canadians take insult when someone believes there might be another place, if not better, equally as good to live.
I find it endlessly interesting to meet people who move from their birth homes and set up new lives elsewhere. Sometimes it’s for work or family, other times it’s for safety. But when you meet people who have chosen to move for the sake of being somewhere else, that is a truly curious thing. It’s like the difference between family and friends; family you are born with, friends are the family you actively select. When someone chooses to live somewhere that isn’t their home, generally, it’s for a very compelling reason. It’s not easy to leave the comfort of where you are from. To enthusiastically choose a different home often means it’s extremely important to you.
And when a group of people who’ve never met before, meet in a new place, a pattern begins to emerge. The reason they all chose it. Often there is an underlying common thread. You find your tribe, people who truly get your heart and soul. They might be from all walks of life, all ages and sizes, but there is something deep that connects you.
As the years have passed, I’ve found and continued to build my community in Provence, and want to be part of it all year long. I am so grateful for every moment I have had there, and I never seem to be less sad to leave, or excited to arrive. That must mean something. I’ve found my true home, and I want to put my feet down there for good. It’s taking a while, but I’ll get there eventually. It’s time.
