Today we are talking about growth… and goals.: by the way, ever feel too chained down to bloom? (photo of a budding vine here at our farm).
velléité (vay-lay-ee-tay) noun, feminine
: vague desire, impulse, whim
.
French definition from L'internaute.com
Intention de faire quelque chose qui n'est finalement pas mise en pratique.
The intention to do something that is, finally, not put into practice.
Audio File : hear today's word and definition, above:
(Note: still working on the MP3 file, enjoy the wav for now): Download Veillete Wave
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristin Espinasse
I intended to write a story about dog food today but, on a rare whim, I changed topics.
It is good to be flexible… something I am still trying to learn as I kick, spit and, eventually, contort myself into a carefree version of the former self.
So it is no secret, not anymore at least… that "cool, relaxed, less rigid" remains high, if not number one, on my "Goals" list.
Come to think of it, my "Goals" list (currently consisting of only one goal) is beginning to look as straight-jacketed as I feel this morning: restricted, confined, limited. Good thing we can remember to follow those whims–to move on from Dog Food to a new mood–and from a new mood… to a new horizon.
So today, please join me in kicking up more dust, and paving the way to new dreams and aspirations. Here are a few of my goals:
1. Be More Flexible
2. Build a stone cabanon
3. Learn to make / edit movies
Your turn to share three goals. Do you want to Swim the English Channel? Plant a field of lavender? Volunteer? Be on Oprah? Learn to Tango? Kiss a Koala"?
Thanks for sharing your "Three Goals" here, in the comments box–for all to enjoy. Who knows, you might just inspire one of us to shake things up on our own Goals list… and aspire to something new!
***
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I’m not going to add to my original ‘goals’ – the three I originally stated are difficult enough! But I am so comforted by how many other people feel that they need to learn to live in the here and now and to stop worrying about what might be. Thanks to all of you for your unintended support, you have made me realise that I am not alone.
Also – just how many of us are striving to learn French – bon chance tout le monde!
Hi Jane,
Those same things struck me; how alike we all are, afterall!
1. LAUGH AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
2. START GOING TO THE GYM WITH MY SON-I HAVE TO DRIVE HIM THERE ANYWAY!
3. SIGN UP FOR A POTTERY CLASS.
1. Speak 5 languages with my children
2. Apply to NASA as a mission specialist
3. Write several books . . .
. . . and the list goes on. My overarching goal is to do all of this and still live presently.
1. Spend a month in France, learning to trust myself and the gifts God gave me as an individual, and figure out what those gifts are! (I leave in 1 month!)
2. Learn to not fear adventure and trying new things.
3. Learn to write better in French, seeing as I can understand and read pretty well already.
Newforest, thanks for the links (this and the previous newsletter), my great-great-great grandfather was born in Galhampton, Somerset (2 miles south of Castle Cary). His original birth record, on parchment, is in Taunton.
1) breeding a hybrid between a Japanese larch and an American larch which proves more productive than Japanese larch on my testing sites. I’m half way there (after 20 years)
2) continuing to grow endangered trees from seed
3) revisiting the Pyrenees Mts and Australia, but I’ll settle for wintering in southern France, and looking up old friends
What a wonderful website you have Kristin!
Goals, eh?
1. Spend half my life in the little house I have by God’s Grace in the Pyrenees (la Bicoque).
2. Publish the books I wrote there, and the ones I am going to write.
3. Marry the freckle-faced French girl, and to speak French well enough that when she tells me her inmost heart, I won’t have to ask her to repeat it more slowly.
These aren’t “les velléités” – these are goals I am going to hit… Soon.
Cool, eh?
do more yoga
rediscover my sense of humor
make sure 3 teenage kids survive the rest of the year and maybe longer
Jean-Marc, New Zealand is truly spectacular! I have been there twice for a month each time and would like to spend at least 3 months there. It was my dream place, also, and more than lived up to my expectations. Take the kids. It is a paradise for nature and sports. Kiwi power!
Patty B
-mentally let go of my crazy family
-write a book about them
-open a French bed and breakfast with the earnings
This is my first post; this request came after ten years of working on a goal to honor the memory of my uncle who was killed in France in WWII. I have been working on this all day when I went to your site to relax (and procrastinate a bit). So I know exactly that I want to:
1) sell my just printed book,” Alan’s Letters”, in France
2) Follow the whole trail my Uncle Alan took as part of the 5th Infantry Division (Patton’s 3rd Army) across France in WWII
3) Find a town to adopt my uncle’s gravesite in St. Avold
1. To take a round-the-world trip.
2. To trust in God more.
3. To stop being so grouchy with my dear husband.
4. (one more!) to get a successful internet business going
I want among others to…
1 be more optimistic
2 fight harder for my ideas
3 learn to sing (tolerable)
Probably reaching goals 1+2 would help to reach some of the others I have…
Thank you for sharing all of these inspiring goals. Keep them coming!
I see many new names in the comments box. So happy to read your words. I hope to “see you” again!
Nancy: wishing “you bonne chance” for your book. What a lovely tribute to a hero and to an uncle.
1- Be “Open to Grace” – something I’m working on through yoga and trying to apply to the rest of my life;
2- Arrange a family reunion in Provence, renting a house for about 10 of us (alas, we’re a small family). I want to share the wonderful experience of southern France with others who haven’t been there;
3- Play M’lyn in Steel Magnolias!
Make it through my kids being teenagers…tough period in life.
Enjoy the little great moments in life more, like reading, painting, learning a new language, and renovating my house.
Travel to all the places I read about, well one day.
Thank you for the picture of the roses. It made my day!
1. Become an expat
2. Make a living with my writing.
3. Learn enough web design to keep me going.