unpacking
Thinking about my time in France, I've concluded that it was a very good trip. Someone (and I'm pretty sure it was the lovely and talented Furrow) said that if I slowed down, my sorrows might rush past me. At the time, I didn't give much weight to her thought, but it turned out she was absolutely right. I wouldn't feel like myself without a few bouts of soul-crushing despair and paralyzing doubt, but, on the whole, my heart was improbably light.
As Baudelaire put it in his poem L'Invitation au Voyage, Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté/Luxe, calme et volupté. Which means, in context and roughly translated: you can run. And, sometimes, you can hide too.
Edited to add: In the comments, Missed Conceptions notes that Luxe, Calme et Volupté is also the title of a painting by Matisse. You can see it here.
11 comments:
I am so glad to hear that your time away gave you a respite from your sorrows. Perhaps that lightness will follow you home.
FYI: the last part of the poem is also the title of a painting by Matisse. Most sentiments sounds better in French, n'est pas?
I hope the lightness will stick around for a while.
I'm so glad.
I am glad you are home. I am glad you had some healing time.
glad you took a little break from the sorrows. I read somewhere, in relation to marital strife, that it's OK to go on a date and put it all aside for a while. The problems will still be ther when you come back, and you can deal with them later. It seems contrary, but it also makes sense. i'm probably not explaining it well.
That is very very good to hear.
Glad to hear it. I hope it was more than a respite, and that you'll continue to feel a bit lighter.
I'm incredibly pleased to hear that you enjoyed yourself. How do you feel about being back?
Glad to hear that your heart felt light. Hope this feeling becomes a little more familiar, now that you're on your home turf.
Only you can make a description of episodes of "soul-crushing doubt and paralyzing doubt" sound a little humorous. Glad to hear you got to hide for a little while. Maybe you'll be able to hide at home too.
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