Is there a term for that feeling of readjustment after an awesome trip? You know it's a good one when it happens. I have tinges of a memory of this feeling as a kid after a cool spring break trip. I don't know if it's gotten heightened with age, or it's the fact that I live further away these days, or I know how to plan an awesome-to-me trip now where my priorities are clear. Anyone else know what I'm talking about??
August is also a strange (yet wonderful) time in Paris. Not much happens on a professional front, as most people take holiday (for at least a couple weeks) and it's a bit of a guessing game for what's open. Last week I sat down with Oliver Gee of the podcast The Earful Tower where we chatted about August in Paris and so much more. The episode drops Monday! (I'll be sure to share it next week too.)
Whether you're trying to get back into a routine like me, or are enjoying some time off, here's some inspiration...
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Read.
Every week I'm reminded of how my own experiences studying abroad have shaped the work I do. "A Year in Paris That Transformed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" is a piece Ann Mah wrote for the NYTimes exploring how the city became one of the greatest influences in the life of Jacqueline Bouvier. The really exciting news is that Ann's article is being expanded into a book she's currently working on!
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Watch.
"Free Solo" is a National Geographic documentary following professional rock climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to climb El Capitan, a nearly vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, "free solo" (aka with no ropes). It's an insane endeavor that has you on the edge of your seat. (It was the movie playing on the bus last week after I sent my last newsletter.)
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Listen.
After 15 years Grace Bonney is closing Design*Sponge, and her most recent endeavor Good Company. Grace was one of the originals in the blog world, so it's really the end of an era. She sat down with her wife Julia Turshen for an honest, and touching conversation about her decision to close both projects in The Final Episode of Good Company podcast. I was lucky to see Grace (my boss for 6 years) while I was in the Catskills, and I respect what she does so much.
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New Project. 💡
The five days I spent in Avignon on the Antacara experience retreat in May were amazing and inspiring, with the goal of finding your frontiers. (It was recently featured in Forbes too!).
I'm so grateful to have connected with founder Jillian Reilly, who has been wanting to create a 1-day urban version. We've teamed up to create Urban Antacara: Make the City Your Playground of Self-Discovery in Paris this September.
We're still tweaking the offering online, but it's fast approaching (Tuesday, September 10th) so I wanted to share it now. Our first collaboration is aimed at moms, but shoot me an email if it's something you'd be interested, now or down the line. I have a lot of other ideas brewing in my head too for workshops both online and off.
New projects are always an experiment, so we'd love if you could help spread the word and share it with anyone who may be looking for something like this. Word of mouth, social media shares, posting in Facebook groups, or forwarding this email—every little bit helps!
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Here's wishing you a wonderful week! 🌞
Hoping you can find some time for yourself to go and play wherever you may live!
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Anne S. Ditmeyer is a designer, explorer, and creative coach based in Paris, France. Her blog Prêt à Voyager (translation: ready to travel) explores the intersection of travel, design, and Paris. Her mantra is "travel is not about where you go, but how you see the world." Her latest endeavor is NavigateParisOnline.com.
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