BORDEAUX AND THE DORDOGNE small group tour Sept 17-25 – culture, cuisine & wine. Click here for itinerary.
PAR TOUS LES MOYENS
: by any means
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read today's quote
Tous les moyens sont bons quand ils sont efficaces. Jean-Paul Sartre
All means are good when they are effective.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
Some mornings I set out in three different directions. Should I write about this event? Or that one? Or is today "laundry day"? (a.k.a. what household business needs taking care of)? This three-pronged fork in my daily chemin is both a privilege and une peste –for when it comes to working for oneself, there are no hours. You can even take the day off. But at the end of the semaine you must have something to show for your efforts.
More likely, at the end of the morning you must have something to show for your efforts. That is ma façon de faire. And though I can usually crank out a post (or keep on top of our family's laundry), some mornings I'm just floundering. The 11th hour (it's 10:56 now…) is about to sonner, and what do I have to show for my efforts–besides getting the dog and my husband fed? (No offense to either one of them.)
QUE DALLE!
I have ZIP to show for my efforts!
Here's what I do when that happens: pace. (Walking liberates ideas). Next, I pick one thing on my three-pronged list and finis-le! Earlier, I thought about finishing "the laundry," but when it comes to productivity, writing trumps all! Which explains why my words are polished..but my home isn't (tidy, but not polished. Not by any means. Which brings us to "by any means"…) The secret to completing a project is to get to the finish line par tous les moyens.
Ouf and voilà. I leave you with that nugget of wisdom. I hope it was a nugget. Or maybe it was just a dust bunny? un mouton de poussière?… Plenty of those under my couch….
P.S. Today's post on productivity wasn't even on my 3-pronged chemin. (It wasn't planned.) But tumbled out while I was trying to figure out how to repost my story of sobriety. Talk about beating around the bush! If you'd like to read that story, "So Much for Anonymity," click here. First read to the end of this post. Merci!
FRENCH VOCABULARY
par tous les moyens = by any means
le chemin = path
la peste = pest
la semaine = week
la façon de faire = way of doing something
sonner = to ring
que dalle = nada, nothing, zip
finis-le! = finish it!
ouf = whew, phew
voilà = so there you have it
un mouton de poussière = dust bunny (ball of lint on the floor)
Shopping:
Embryolisse cream – my daughter and I both use it!
Zaz — you must listen to this artist (thanks, Reader Dave). The song Eblouie par la nuit will move you like no other. Order here.
Walk in a Relaxed Manner – a book I'm reading about the Camino
Nespresso capsules (Thanks, Dad, for reordering coffee from my site, via these links. I got a little commission for your purchase!)
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Another great example of why English mixed with French is so good to read. Merçi bien, Kristin.
Hello,
There is so much inspiration all around and within you to write whatever you want, for you write it so well! I just got home from 96 hours at work. Today laundry may wait until another day off, even though my dog left presents of food in my bed. The comforter will have to be washed in the big machine at work anyway. Hope all is well and that those walks bring clarity
to all you have to say.
As always, your posts are enlightening and thought-provoking. I must disagree with your take on par tous les moyens. For me, it is similar to saying “the end justifies the means,” which these days in the US, is not necessarily a good thing! I suppose it depends on the means you are seeking, and doing the laundry, or writing a post, certainly do fit into the first definition!
I waste a lot of time myself, and may be the queen of procrastination. Your comment ‘que dalle’ reminded me of the term ‘dilly dally’ and so off I went trying to see if there was a connection between dalle and dally. It seems it has an Anglo French origin! They think it’s from ‘dallier’ but I couldn’t really find a good translation of that word, so I will get back to work here lol.
Buffy, That is an enormous workload. I am so sorry you had to return to that mess, when you deserved to relax in a bed of soft, lavender-scented sheets…with many good treats on your nightstand! The next time I see you, we will walk together. Bon courage, Mon amie.☀️
The “laundry” is often my excuse for not working on a painting I am trouble with. Thank you for this article/post.
Hi Kristi:
Happy to see that you’re also a fan of Zaz! So are we, chez nous.
You can tell Chief Grape that it was his former Danish importer, Jesper Mansted, who introduced me to Zaz in his small basement wine shop in Copenhagen where her music was played again and again.
I face the same three-pronged fork often. I need to choose the writing over the laundry more often as you do. It’s just that in doing the “laundry” I can actually see something finished, while with writing there frequently is no end. But I’m going to learn from your example and leave the mouton de poussière where it is.
In my days as a professor, any graduate student working on a dissertation was sure to hear me say: “Just get it done!” I should have added, “par tous les moyens”
Our dear Kristi,
Today’s post(once again) wrapped us in hugs and shared feelings of
wrestling with that challenging three pronged fork.
I only wish that I handled things as well as you do(!)(sigh)
But life is all too short,and I have come to the conclusion that it is more important to enjoy each day(sometimes,alas, par tous les moyens) and go to sleep in contentment for what did get accomplished.(hopefully with a smile on my face)
Thank you for reminding us to just carpe diem!
Love
Natalia. Xo
I’m still praying that you will be able to finish your memoir one day.
You have no idea how many would be blessed by your story.
bon courage!
I’m a procrastinator, par excellence! That, and a tendency to multi-task, can screw up the day. So, I admire your 3-prong method!
Ellen Dégénérés said, “procrastinate now, don’t put it off!”
Amen!!!
Kristi Darling,
Thank you for today’s valuable life tip….just when I needed some direction
to enjoy my trials, quit grinding my teeth – move forward. I think I will
walk around my village and see how many plants I can buy from my neighbors for my little terrace garden. I love you Kristi – you are always here when
I need you.
XOXO Mom
Yes, walking liberates ideas and so many other things! If I am stuck, sad, tired, or just don’t know what… I walk. I don’t want to walk, I don’t know where to walk, but I go. As I walk I discover flowers I would like to plant, new colors to paint my house and see birds I have never noticed before. Always after my walk, I am refreshed and have so many ideas for different avenues of my life. It just amazes me every time that an action so simple can accomplish so much!
First of all I think I have a spoon instead of a fork. All my “to do’s” don’t seem to be separated. No wonder I can’t get on top of anything. Time to switch to a fork…but I probably will have 4 prongs. And second, I am most confused about le mouton de poussiere. Mouton is of course sheep….and and poussier means dust. And I guess if you stretch it….sheep do have fleece which could be lint……but why don’t they just call it “la lapin de poussier”…..dust bunny,
Instead of stressing about it any longer (because, yes, life is too short), if it gets done…fine, if it doesn’t….well, hopefully there is tomorrow and just don’t fret. One way to feel good about the list of what needs to be done is to write down the list….but no more than 5 things and strive to
complete 2…great….and if by chance you manage all 5….well, just consider it icing on the cake.
Mom,
Get that terrace garden ready…and at a cot (for the siesta) and a parasol…because we are coming to visit you at the next chance! Meantime, Bonne déménagement! Happy moving!
Love,
Kristi
Thanks Joie!You are a kind and thoughtful lady. Sometimes it really helps to hear suggestions from a friend,especially one about the same age!
More days behind now than ahead(of course) and of such value to make each one count.
Blessings to you and yours.
I enjoy whatever you write and enjoy empathising with you–whether procrastinating, going with the flow, agonizing over whatever. So I suggest that you have a Greek Choir here supporting what you do and don’t do–only you are harsh with you!
Continué! love and appreciation….
Thanks for the mention of Zaz! I love her music. Je Veux has been my “go to” song for a few years now when it’s time to take a writing break and dance around the house. Try it! 🙂
Kristi,
If you can get a chance, I sent an email the other day. Hopefully the email I had for you before is still valid! 🙂
Thanks for all your so very charming posts. I really appreciate all you do for us!
I had never heard of dust bunnies or moutons de poussierè! Love that, despite being such a dedicated scholar of the language, I keep on learning every day. PS I have just read your linked posts. Since subscribing, I have commented a couple of times about the honesty and openness of your posts. I had no idea of your previous journey. Last year, I shared the following article with my daughter, who has just turned 18 https://qz.com/762868/giving-up-alcohol-opened-my-eyes-to-the-infuriating-truth-about-why-women-drink/ In fact, I read it aloud to her. The impact was so strong that she then read it aloud to several of her friends, unprompted by me. Thanks for your honesty. It encourages all of us to follow your lead.
KRISTIN, I HAVE A BOOK OF FAMOUS SAYINGS, THIS ONE, SOUNDS LIKE YOU, EVERY MORNING, I AWAKE TORN BETWEEN A DESIRE TO SAVE THE WORLD AND AN INCLINATION TO SAVOR IT. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PLAN THE DAY” BY E B WHITE, DON’T THINK I KNOW HIM, BUT I THINK THIS IS DELIGHTFUL. I HAVE MORE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THEM, JOY WOOD
poussière – slipped accent!
Hi, Joy!
E.B. White wrote the much loved children’s classics: “Charlotte’s Web” and “Stuart Little”, among others. One is never too old to enjoy these wonderful books. Salut!
Dear Kristi … I have been following (and enjoying) your blog for years, thanks to our Yelapa connection. I lived there when your mom did, altho sadly, I never got to know her. A mutual friend (Kathryn) came to visit you (in 2013?), posted a photo and link to your blog on Facebook … and I have been hooked ever since. Now with a bilingual 5-yr-old grandson (French-speaking Belgian), I am working hard on catching up to him!
This note is to thank you for recommending Zaz, who I am listening to as I write. (I discovered that Amazon Prime subscribers can stream her album for free.)
And thanks too for sharing the stories of your life — along with French vocabulary and culture — with us. I look forward to all your posts.
Hi Kristi,
I flipped back to your “So Much for Anonymity” story and read it again. You are so brave and I am proud of you…it’s 18 years now, right?! Congrats and thanks again for sharing your French life with us!
I do not know how you find time to read and answer comments, too, but don’t worry EVER about mine. When I started my bakery, the laundry lagged, the indoor/outdoor kittes fortunately hunted when I forgot to put out food and I understood all too well my other working friends’ excuses for not meeting so often as before.
BUT…when in doubt and subjects flee, write about that, as you just did. All is interesting from your pen…er…computer. Oh, I miss pens! At least I have brushes with paint on the ends!
I definitely agree! I love the mix of French and English to get to be more familiar with the language! Great post!!