Live your life in colour

Picture by  http://re-mind-er.tumblr.com/

When I left to go into work today, it was stifling. The sky was full of clouds keeping in the heat that Paris has finally been experiencing. With absolutely no breeze the 30 degrees it was actually felt like 40 and if I stood there with my eyes closed I could swear I was in another city, even back home. By the time I arrived to work the clouds had turned to that familiar grey colour I have become to know well & it started to rain. Maybe for this reason, or because of the previous heat, not many people booked tours today and as a result I got to go home. By the time I arrived here the temperature dropped a few degrees and the rain became constant so after opening my windows and taking a seat I figured now would be a better time than any to fill you in on my life over the last few weeks.

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This is where this post finished when I began it a few weeks ago. I was feeling inspired, I began writing, then nothing. Just me staring blankly at my computer screen.

I started this blog as an outlet to originally talk about my life and thoughts in Melbourne and after moving to Paris it has turned into an expat travel blog. I love writing. I love telling stories about my adventures (as I tend to have a lot of them) but lately I have not been able to muster together the energy and a result just stopped. Life has been particularly hectic here in Paris. I have been working, entertaining visitors, travelling and spending times with new friends. I guess you could say I have been out there living.

When I was out in Paris on tour yesterday, a girl walked past who was wearing a T-shirt that said:

'Live your life in colour'

It made me smile.

When I was living in Melbourne, I was consumed by work. I felt that all I did was get up, go to work, come home, eat, sleep and sometimes be woken up by work or at least be woken up by an alarm to go back to work. Now, don't get me wrong. I loved my job. Yes, it definitely had its moments where I just wanted to quit and cry, but all in all I loved it. I loved feeling like I made a real difference to peoples lives, I loved what I actually did. Being a nurse in essence is who I am. I love to care for and look after people. What I didn't realise at the time, is that I had forgotten to stop and look after myself. As a result I barely had time for my friends, I didn't eat well and was just tired 24 hours a day.

Living in Paris, my life couldn't be more different. I work normal hours, my job is reasonably low stress (working with people its impossible for a job to be stress free!!) and I have time to get out and explore. Now by no means is living in Paris perfect. I have definitely had my low points here. The language for one is a constant battle, I don't have a lot of money but I am happy. I am living my life in colour.

I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life and it is a humbling and reassuring feeling. I am in my last weeks of my twenties and my current stint in Paris. I am heading to Bordeaux for the month of September and after that..... who knows?! Maybe I will stay in Bordeaux?! Maybe I will return to Paris?! Maybe I will go somewhere completely different?!

The freedom is intoxicating and I love it.

The sceptics out there just tell me I am scared of commitment and settling down. Maybe that is partly true but the reality is, to me life is about going out there, taking risks, chasing dreams and doing what makes you happy.

I very much look forward to the day I return to Melbourne, being around my friends and family again, but for now you can rest assured I am enjoying the freedom and adventure of this European life.

I can't promise you I will write more regularly, I will try, but I can promise one thing. I will be out there taking risks, making mistakes, exploring, laughing and making more stories. I very much hope you are out there doing the same thing!