A Single Girl in Paris
Bonjour, mon ami! It is your single friend Stephanie, newly back from travels in Paris! In typical Single Girl Guide fashion, I’m here to share something I’ve learned within my singledom, in hopes that it helps or maybe even inspires my fellow single friends out there, so let’s jump on in!
Let’s rewind to a year or so ago. It was a time when I was itching to have an adventure, while also simultaneously thinking about my big, impending thirtieth birthday that would take place in the next six months. Scary! So along with one of my best friends Alexa, we cooked up a plan to adventure to Paris to celebrate our thirtieth birthdays over wine, divine food, art and an immense amount of people-watching.
Okay, now that we’ve had a little trip down memory lane, let’s come back to the present moment at hand. You know, just got back from Paris, going to hopefully share some wisdom of what I learned while eating too many croissants. You’re back? Great.
Obviously, Paris is an incredibly beautiful place filled with magic, romance, breathtaking architecture and food that will make you want to speak solely in poetic verse. But what I took from Paris–what I learned from Paris, was more than just the stunning views and eats.
Don’t be Afraid to Take Up Space
In Paris, one of the first things I noticed while out at a cafe enjoying a glass of Rose, was how comfortable Parisians are to take time and space, not in an obnoxious way, but in a way that we should all feel more comfortable doing. At this cafe, I was captivated by two friends taking up two tables, and four chairs, two for them and two for their bags. They continued being there for several hours and not a soul was mussed. When I think about doing that in a place like Toronto, well I can’t. It just simply wouldn’t happen. We’re so polite (for the most part) and don’t want to inconvenience anyone by taking up “too” much space. As a single girl, sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t occupy space because it’s just me, there isn’t a husband or kids. But after being in Paris, this is something that I hope to integrate into my every day, to take my time and not worry about being an inconvenience to someone else by merely existing.
You Will Figure it Out
Let’s be honest, travelling to a place where you’ve never been and don’t speak the language can be a wee bit intimidating, even when you have a friend who speaks the language by your side. I believe we learn a lot about ourselves by travelling to intimidating places like this, there’s a lot you just have to figure out, very similar to being newly single, and it’s usually in these instances that we realize just how capable we actually are! While I would never say that I’m a great navigator, I am proud of the fact that by the end of the trip, I had a decent sense of how to get around Paris. You figure it out. Everything in life is figure-out-able.
Never Stop Seeking Adventure
Paris was definitely an adventure that I will hold dear to my heart. And what made it all the better was leaving room for spontaneity. Of course, when you travel you want a plan, but I also recommend making a point to seek adventure wherever and whenever you can. When you’re single, it’s often easier to say no to adventure for a myriad of different reasons, especially in the every day (when you’re not, ya know, in Paris living your best life). But I want to encourage you to stop letting your relationship status dictate what you think you can or cannot do. Do you want to buy a house for yourself? Buy it. Do you want to go on a trip around the world by yourself? Do it, I will be cheering you on! Do you want to adopt a pet? Go for it! Whatever the adventure is, seek it and jump right in. Say yes as much as you possibly can because it will bring you an abundant life filled with joy.
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