He taught me how to eat cheese–and, lately, how to lâcher prise. Photo of Jean-Marc and me taken in 1993, at La Cloche aux Fromages in Marseilles.
TODAY'S WORD: lâcher prise
: to let go
ECOUTEZ – Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word: Download Lacher-prise
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
THIS PEACE
Today is the big day
Lately I've been thinking about
all the peace I feel
When I feared it would be
Regret
I wonder at what point
I began to
let go
Perhaps it took this move
or the previous
or the one before
I could have stayed here
in the land of
milk and honey
Squeezed sweetness out of
This dry ground
A broken farmer's soul
…were it not for His whisper
Trust me
Lâche prise
You Dear Reader
may feel sad
Have I resigned?
I wonder
at what point
I let go
Began to feel
This peace
* * *
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trust the most precious..
Confidence and trust in each other. And optimism. You have all that you need.
The song below ONWARD by Mark Kozelek is beautiful in its simplicity like your poem, and is what came to my mind when I read it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DTBK616u69Y
Keep writing poems…so beautiful. Writing can be a liberating form of therapy. Let it guide your dreams and thoughts. Hang in there!
What a beautiful post… and I absolutely LOVE the way Jean-Marc is looking at you in that first picture from 1993. 🙂
We all have something we need to let go of. Last night a concerned family agreed, “There’s really not a thing anyone of us can do.” I don’t want to believe that circumstances are beyond my control. We all try to plant fruit in dry ground. If only we COULD trust. Saying all that, Kristi, to say that much of what you wrote applies to me & many of your readers, I’m sure. As usual, you touch us where we live. Bon courage!
Toujours – let go and let God. He’ll keep you going.
Dear Kristi, what a beautiful and haunting poem. I am so happy that you feel peace and not regret with your decision. That is enough! You are an amazing writer and very dear to take us along on your fascinating journey. You are brave and kind and smart. All the best to you.
Kristin and Jean-Marc,
I think of this quote as you face your uncertainties.
“When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first
step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly.”
quote by Patrick Overton (author of The Learning Tree).
Fondly, Linda
Whoops…..Patrick Overton is the author of The Leaning Tree. Sorry
about that.
Kristi, New adventures await you tomorrow, no matter which fork in the road you take! The comments above have said it all more eloquently than I could have. I can only add that I will miss your posts from Provence :*-(. You and your family have become so much a part of our lives – please start another blog to let us know what’s happening in your new life ! Bon courage and bonne chance to you all, including Smokey! Augusta
Beautiful. Powerful. Thank you.
Have been where you are many times in my life…some have been harder than others (especially the ones that meant thousands of miles would seperate me from loved ones ) However …life goes on and new beginnings happen.As long as you two are together… all will be well……Selfishly…. I hope you will stay in France… cause I can tag along with you in my favorite place in they world. Bon courage!
Dear Kristi,
A new chapter, a new beginning, a new adventure. Thank you for including us in your journey, by sharing your heart and soul you have inspired so many of us with your story. I also have been thrust into a new life direction not of my choosing… I lost my husband, love and best friend of 30 years unexpectedly a few months ago. Cherish your loved ones and your opportunities to share your light with the world. Bonne chance, bon courage!
meilleurs vœux,
Michelle
Dear Kristi…Such a beautiful post..With faith you and Jean Marc will in deed be guided along the best path…look at your life sthus far…despite some bumps along the way, you have been well served and loved.
Love, bj
Bon courage mes amis. Nous sommes fiers de vous et nous sommes derrière vous!
Very spiritual and most appropriate for our fears, worries, and anxieties. Merci, Kristi!
Wishing all the best for you and your family. Sounds to me like you are holding dear and cherishing (NOT letting go of) the most important things–the people you love. The bravest, most important thing to do in the face of change and uncertainty. Bravo!
My 95 year old mother’s words of wisdom are with me, even though they are no longer with her. Foremost is that “things happen for the best.” This has proven true for me when things seemed at their worst–more than once! Things are not at their worst for you, at all! I think you just made it through the worst. You two are in control now, and you will make things happen for your future best. Please keep us with you to see what this new best will be and please continue to know that apparently many of us, including this old girl in Texas, wish you ALL the BEST! Hugs many times over–Cathia
Kristi and Jean-Marc,
My husband Jed and I well understand both your dreams and your dilemma as we planted our four-year old vineyard at age 60. We worried about everything, and like you, we made some serious mistakes along the way. We are making artisanal vinegar from some of our Merlot, and sell the rest. But already we are wondering how we will continue to do this as we age. Perhaps like you and Jean Marc, it will turn out to be an adventure, and we will look back fondly on our vineyard while still wondering ‘what were we thinking?!!”
Thank you for sharing these very private thoughts and feelings.
Pam and Jed
I love this post, and Jean-Marc’s open letter. I wish you all the best. I agree that Colorado and Oregon are the best places in the U.S.
I don’t know how you feel about the election. You and your readers should know, however – since you post links to goods on Amazon – that Amazon is on the #GrabYourWallet boycott list (found on Google docs and on twitter) because Amazon sells products with the Trump family brand. I have stopped shopping at Amazon for this reason, and will until it stops carrying a brand that stands for bigotry, racism, sexism, misogyny, division and hate. If you love France, and Portland, surely these are not your values. Are there other retailers for these items? Thank you for hearing me out.
Thank you for the beautiful words. Good luck….bonne chance. But you will be greatly missed. You do bring happiness to me and others. Joan