Damsel Diaries 11 years ago Damsel Diaries // Running On Full
Being in Paris after an absence of nearly a decade was like seeing an old friend that I hadn’t caught up with in quite a long time. She was happier, sunnier and able to offer me her learnings of a 10 year break in which we both had matured and learned new things about life. I had graduated college, started a career and then left that career to pursue my dream of blogging. And just as I took a break from Paris, as you know, I also revisited a friend who I had taken a break from for the past month: running.
Like any time away from someone or some thing, it takes a moment to slowly reintroduce yourself to each other and get reacquainted but before long it begins to feel like home again. Sometimes a familiar person or activity that is experienced in a new setting can offer a different perspective. Visiting Paris, beautiful Paris, was apparently just what the doctor ordered to not only heal my foot injury, but rejuvenate my soul.
Even the simple sip of coffee while sitting on a cobblestone street tastes new, rich and invigorating. An afternoon of walking around in circles with a friend I talk to every day feels like a walk around a world filled with inspiration. Buildings look different, trees offer smiles and conversations are full of insight and heart felt wisdom. The air was always chilly but my heart was always warm with love. And standing in the pouring rain at 1am with my best friend Lina seemed like the best idea we’ve ever had in this world {and it was}.
On this trip to Paris, life transformed. Running felt exceptional. Friendships felt awakened. Style felt refreshed. My heart felt renewed.
As I ran down the Champs Elysees towards the Seine – the relative ease of and down to the Champs des Mars, I couldn’t help but think of how analogous my professional journey has been to my training for the Nike Women’s Half-Marathon. As many of you (my devoted readers) are aware, I’ve always dreamt of being in Paris for Fashion Week. And much as I had suspected, I feel thoroughly inspired by what I have seen and lived during the past week in Paris. As I embarked on my career as a blogger, I was filled with a sense of limitless possibilities – in part fueled by the complete and utter ignorance of what it would take to achieve my goals. And much like my foot injury, my career too has been fraught with a set back or two. But after exercising some patience and some hard work and finding a little bit of inspiration, I found myself back on the right path – and in Paris.
*I write from my heart, not from my head, so please excuse any typos*
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