It is time to Embrace l’Art de Vivre
Ah…..L’Art de vivre.
When a life philosophy presents itself to you in French, you know it’s one worth hearing out. L’Art de vivre unsurprisingly translates to ‘the art of living’, and is itself derived from the much-utilised expression ‘joie de vivre’ – or, the joy of living. In a world where media focuses on bad news, difficult personal circumstances and perennially-tough adult decision-making, it can be difficult to chart a path to that same joie de vivre that seemed more much accessible in our youth.
Luckily, l’art de vivre can provide us with something of a blueprint, at least to changing our perspective on the unchanged world around us. After all, if you can’t change your circumstances, you can still change how you respond to them. The following paragraphs will explore the hows and whys of l’art de vivre, and hopefully give you some compelling reasons to eschew pessimism in favour of something a little more radical.
Celebrate the Joy of Simple Pleasures
The essential premise of l’art de vivre is one of encouragement; it encourages us to find happiness in everyday moments, as opposed to superficially confecting or manufacturing joy via other, less-sustainable means. From savouring a meal well-cooked to enjoying a walk in your local woods, l’art de vivre helps us appreciate the simple beauty that pre-exists in the lives we live.
A great way to experience this philosophy in action is by engaging in simple activities that combine relaxation and exploration; cycling holidays are a great combination of the two, being an immediately-accessible form of travel and one which encourages you to be mindful of your surroundings. Cycling through picturesque landscapes allows you to slow down and truly enjoy the journey.
Photo: Lori
Foster a Deeper Connection with Nature
This mindfulness is also the catalyst for another excellent point towards l’art de vivre as life philosophy; it is an opportunity for you to reconnect with nature, and fully understand its potential with respect to our well-being.
The aforementioned bike tour is a key opportunity to practice this, but there are plenty of other examples too – including forest bathing, an exercise that has started to find its way into NHS messaging for managing mental health disorders. Such experiences not only provide physical benefits, but also foster a meaningful sense of peace, something which is increasingly harder to find in today’s world. And sometimes it is not a hike through the Sierra Norte in Oaxaca, Mexico (although I’d put it on your list) that is needed, when on can easily find time and space for such a healing at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Cultivate a Balanced Lifestyle
L’art de vivre is about more than just getting outside and experiencing ‘more’. It’s about achieving balance in all aspects of life, including work, leisure, and personal growth – and ‘consuming’ each aspect of each conspicuously. Rather than chasing more hours, more dopamine, more adrenaline, you instead savour that which you receive – and find a deeper connection to your own life in the process. An art, for sure, but one which soon begets joy.
Conclusion
The joys of living are what we our lives are about. Travel often allows us to find more time for these joys as does the Stay Adventurous mindset, but to truly become immersed in the L’art de vivre, one must appreciate the art and joys in the everyday moments or everyday life.
