Category: Encouragement

Encouragement, Writing

The Vas-y Effect. You know this secret to happiness and success…

A random photo from Paris. You can never see enough hearts! Keep looking for them, and enjoy the following pick-me-up message. TODAY'S WORD:  "Vas-y!"     : go for it! FRENCH SOUND FILE: Click below to hear Jean-Marc pronounce all 12 French terms in this post. Then scroll down to the vocabulary section to check your French comprehension. Click here to listen to the French … Continue reading The Vas-y Effect. You know this secret to happiness and success…

Kristin Espinasse35 Comments
Bilingual Story, Encouragement, hope, inspiration

Rien qu’aujourd’hui (Only for Today): A “How To” for difficult times

During 10 challenging years at two vineyards (before moving to this peaceful, postage-stamp garden where our wine memoir is underway), I kept a copy of today's mind-centering thoughts in my purse. In uncertain times, such words may be helpful to you, to your family, or to your friends.ONLY FOR TODAY…RIEN QU'AUJOURD'HUIOnly for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to … Continue reading Rien qu’aujourd’hui (Only for Today): A “How To” for difficult times

Kristin Espinasse41 Comments
Encouragement, Positive Thinking

bonne rentree (et bon courage!)

Smokey wishes you all une bonne rentrée. And, naner naner!, after enjoying his breakfast baguette, Smo-smo gets to linger beneath the lazy sunflower whilst Jackie hurries for the bus. How to say "to rub it in" in French? TODAY'S PHRASE: "bonne rentrée" (f) (boehn-rahn-tray)     : Happy back-to-school!, Enjoy the new school year! Audio File & Example Sentence: Download MP3 or Wave file Saw the following … Continue reading bonne rentree (et bon courage!)

Kristin Espinasse46 Comments
Encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jackie

Desiderata Poem in French and English: Lifechanging Words

Our 16-year-old set out, yesterday, on a 24-hr voyage. Alone, she flew from Nice to London, then London to Dallas, and on to Denver. Unsure of what to say to my daughter before she left, I slipped the following poem into her travel bag. Photo taken at the Vieux Port in Marseilles, on break from her internship at a couturier's.   "D E S I D … Continue reading Desiderata Poem in French and English: Lifechanging Words

Kristin Espinasse130 Comments
Dual-language Story, Encouragement

sourire

Smiles and good wishes for all today. Isn't that what's needed? The following French poem was spotted in the neighboring village of Rasteau. Some "happy nester" had taped it to their front porch window…. Thank you, Newforest, for translating the text. (When you have read the poem, you might come back and visit the Mamie in the window above: click here…)  *** "Le sourire" (smile)… … Continue reading sourire

26 Comments
Dental Issues, Encouragement, Japan, Jules, Kindness of strangers, Mexico, Stress

haut les coeurs!

Current events have us wearing our hearts on our former façades… and it's a good thing, n'est-ce pas? haut les coeurs (oh lay ker)     : lift up your spirit, take heart, be brave! have courage! Thank you, Carolyn Foote Edelmann, for today's French expression: Carolyn writes, in response to Monday's seisme post: Small thought – watching their dignity and fortitude, I think [the Japanese] may … Continue reading haut les coeurs!

41 Comments