juicy goodness

Unlock Your Dream charm pendant relisted at Bella Wish

Oh wow, I don't think I have ever enjoyed reading comments so much as I enjoyed reading about the juicy dreams some of you beauties have so bravely and boldly announced to the world in my last post. All are delicious. I smiled my way through each one and sent along all good wishes that each and every one of your dreams will come true. I love that it inspired some of you to write your own posts and to realize that the power of dreaming on its own is filled with beauty and hope.

Thank you so much for being brave, bold and announcing to the universe that you are ready for the magic to unfold.

This is fun for me as well, because it helps me to realize that together we can build a community of brave dreamers who support and encourage each other to share, take action through the fear and allow for space to see our dreams come to fruition.

Do you want to take the next step? I am going to explore more about the fears, hopes and rewards that accompany each of us on our journeys much more in my monthly column over at Wish Studio***, but for today I want to see if you all are ready to manifest a bit more magic.

I will share my story of how taking a few tiny baby steps toward living in Paris is unfolding a new pathway for me to explore, and I would love nothing more if you shared a baby step (or two) you have taken toward your beautiful dreams and the magic that is flowing for you for having done so. You may share either here in my comments, or in your own space, but if you do post about it on your blog, please leave your link here so I can read about it.

So, Paris...

The back story is five years ago when Jimmy and I were in Paris we both fell in love with the city. We had been dreaming of the day we would finally be there and it did not disappoint; it was so much more than both of us could have even imagined. I know, I know, Who doesn't fall in love with Paris, it's Paris! But something about being there connected deeply with both of us and five years later we still miss it so and think of our time there often, usually followed by deep sighs of longing.

Truth be told we didn't do that much touristy stuff while there. Our magic happened simply by letting the days take us where they wanted to take us. We got lost in neighborhoods we knew nothing about. We stumbled upon family-owned local bistros where we were warmly welcomed and shown nothing but kindness and hospitality. We spent hours in wine-soaked conversation in cafe's and marvelled at the way the light is captured and reflected off of the architecture in rays of pink and golden tones. We purchased food and wine at outdoor markets and navigated the train system pretty easily. We found that a simple Merci and S'il vous plait is as much French as you need to know starting out and is much appreciated amongst Parisans. Of course having a husband who speaks fluent Spanish also helps; I am convinced that most Europeans speak at least five languages.

Once we were back at home in Los Angeles, we tried to capture a bit of the European lifestyle here in our everyday life, but it's just not that easy; the mindset of the United States is based on a different set of priorities. While I love the freedom that America brings, I do believe that experiencing cultures besides the one we are raised in is the where our knowledge of compassion and understanding begin to expand on a global level.

I always thought living in France was just a romantic pipe dream. Much like our pipe dream to open a restaurant someday or publish a book. But once I started to live my life in a way where I realized that I truly can design the life I want, and those weren't just words, it no longer seemed so far off in the distance: Finding my partner in life, launching two creative businesses after years of being unfulfilled in a job, finding community through my blog and now taking the steps to raising my daughter to follow her own dreams all have me believing that whatever it is you want in this life is just a matter of taking action in some form each day to get you closer to that dream. I have found that each baby step not only gets us closer to our dreams, but also gives less and less power to the gremlins, the fears, the excuses that oftentimes stand in our way.

So, a few weeks ago when the idea of Paris started shouting at me words like, Paris is here and waiting for you, what is your excuse today? I realized that perhaps this was something I needed to pay attention to. What am I waiting for? Perhaps there is a reason Jimmy and I haven't been able to purchase a home here in Los Angeles though we've tried for years. Perhaps I could find a way to support my family with my creative endeavors so Jimmy could live his dream of being home with his daughter, at least for a year, with the icing on the cake being able to do that in Paris. The truth is that I don't want to be in Los Angeles too much longer and I certainly am not thrilled about the idea of raising Isabella here.

Quite simply, I decided it was time to unlock the dream. I told a close friend (that was easy), and then I told someone who I wasn't close with at all but who is truly inspiring (that was harder). Once I got past the fear of actually telling people it became more real. Of course it helps when their responses were practically giddy with support and encouragement and not riddled with pessimism and judgment.

I then thought about one small action I could take to get me closer. What would I need to know about moving to Paris so I could start planning? So I started to research what typical rent is on Paris apartments. I then did something daring and asked on both my Facebook and Twitter pages if I was crazy for researching rent on furnished apartments in Paris. This is the part where the magic takes over.

One of the responses was from my cousin whose best friend has lived in Paris for the last six years. My cousin put the two of us in contact and now she and I have been emailing back and forth about the logistics of living there. She has calmed my fears tremendously and has given me some pretty solid leads and wonderful suggestions on how to make this a reality. She loves her life in Paris and is excited about helping me get there. As it turns out, a year in Paris is completely doable if we sincerely want to make it happen. Plus knowing there is a pretty large ex-pat community helps tremendously. So, if the universe plays nice and decides not to test us mercilessly between now and then, our goal is to embark on our year in Paris at the beginning of 2011. Writing that here is huge.

One of the amazing things about running Bella Wish is that I get a fair amount of orders from gorgeous lovelies across the globe, god bless the internet, and one of my recent customers is from France. When she placed her order, I noticed she had both an American address in addition to her address in France. I decided to ask her about it, while telling her my own dream in addition. She wrote back to tell me that yes, she is an American who now loves her life in France. Turns out she is there studying wine-making (hello!) and her mom is a cook. Is her mom's website not the dreamiest? I instantly fell in love. They both live in Burgundy. Talk about living your dreams! When Jimmy, Isabella and I get to Paris, we are definitely traveling to Burgundy to pay then a visit. I may very well have to take one of her classes while there.

So, let's keep the dreaming big momentum going. Continue to share your dream with others so the universe can do it's job. Now tell me a baby step you have taken to get you one baby step closer to bringing that dream to life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** my contribution to the wishmama series is now up. you can read it here.

** this is the last day to get the sale price on affirmation pendants in my store. The sale ends tonight.

Comments

[janehatesdick]

As a new reader, I thank you for so boldly sharing your dream and encouraging readers to do the same. Yesterday I left a long comment detailing my current dreams, but it seems it was lost in space. It may seem silly, but I even found that inspiring, and blogged about it.

Steps I've taken so far: I called a friend and read her your post and shared my dreams with her.

I have an appointment on Wednesday at a local women's resource center to consult with someone who can help me formulate a plan to achieve my goals.

I decided to sell some of the possessions that are weighing me down. I'll put whatever money I make towards funding my dreams. I listed my first item on eBay before I allowed myself to go to bed last night.

One foot in front of the other...

[vivienne]

i'm so excited for you and this big dream...it sounds like the universe is really rallying around you cheering for this dream...simply because you were brave enough to share it!

[emma]

Oh, I am so deeply thrilled for you! Wonderful news...when shall we get together to discuss?

xo
e

[Brandon]

Great stuff. All my love to you, j!, and Bella!

[michele]

Oh wow. This really struck something deep inside of me. I have a dream ... a huge dream. But I am so afraid that it won't work out, so afraid because everything has been so hard in the past that it seems that God, the Universe, the what-have-you's do not want me to have my dream. Is it possible that I am standing in my own way? I am even afraid to say this dream out loud (except to 1 person) .... I will work on it. Thanks for being so brave and bold.

I hope and pray that your dream unfolds exactly as it should.

[windylindy]

Rite on my darling daughter...hummmm I bought a donut shop you sleeping in the van.... hummmm I bought a 2 1/2 acre home.... Living in Arizona.... Never dwell in the negatives always the postives..You bet do it do it do it.... My Blessings are upon you and my garage awaits as a storage unit.

[windylindy]

Oh forgot... I motorcycled across country when I was 53... This about your life. Not mine but hey you are my daughter!!!!

[Marianne]

Oh you have really lit a fire here! I love how your courage in naming your big wild dream has given everyone permission to name theirs. I would love to come and visit you in Paris. I haven't been for a couple of years and I am worried that my French is getting horrible and rusty. I have no doubt that you will be there. Once you know it is really your dream and you are entitled to it nothing can stop you.

My dream? Living with my sweetheart in our eco-cottage by the sea with my organic garden, less than an hour train ride to the city. Writing beautiful, inspiring books about how we can all work together to change our world, to make peace instead of war and to learn to embrace ourselves and everyone else with boundless love. Teaching yoga in a little studio perched on top of my sweetheart's vegan, organic Mexican cafe. We have kirtan concerts one night and country bands the next. We raise money for schools in Afghanistan and Gaza and for our local play centre. Some how, in some way, I'm a mother. Maybe of my own biological children, maybe adopted, maybe fostering, maybe just nurturing and caring for the children and inner children in my community and who I encounter around the world. I go back to Afghanistan and to Gaza to encourage and support my friends there and to write stories to share with the world about how they are each changing their own worlds one day at a time. Pretty simple, huh?

I've started with the eco-cottage by the sea, the organic garden, the community yoga class and - as you know - I'm writing that book, however long it takes me I am writing that book.

Love you!

[kb]

i am so proud of you on so many levels. you inspire me so tremendously - my gratitude is really off the charts!

more soon. xoxoxo

[jessamyn]

oh stacy~
this is awesome!
i love how much unfolds when we start to lean into the magic.
your life is a beautiful reminder of that!

[lotus]

if you find any tricks that are new pertaining to moving to france, please let me know.

we would love to move back there in the future as i lived there for 4 years and my partner for 15. we loved it and life there is lived at a much different pace, we lived in provence. we moved back to america in 2005.

our son was even born in aix-en -provence! his birth certificate is french but france gives him no right to live there.

as far as we know if we moved back there we would not even be able to get electricity.
it is all attached to your bank account and that is attached to your employment or the
huge amount of money you need to bring when you live there for a year; over 30k.

i was never able to get a visa and was illegal for the entire time i lived there, we paid in cash for our sons birth and i was never able to have a bank account, a drivers license or anything in any legal sense.

my partner had a carte de sejour because previously he was married to a french girl and had rights but when that ended boom! back to america. it was really sad for us.

the economy is socialist and there are no jobs, they monitor your bank accounts and you pay tax off that. for me the experience of living there was magical but the red tape awful.

maybe things have changed. maybe there is an easier was we didn't know of.
my man is fluent in french and owned 2 very successful business there.

we would love to find a way to get back there one day!

i wish for you and your family an easier transition than i had. hopefully there is new way of doing things.

only goodness to you!

lotus

[Lis]

I read the previous post and wandered around for awhile with a tingly feeling throughout my bodymind. Give voice to my dreams? Do I dare? Or is it: How dare I? I know the power and have some pebbles of magic from previous dreams in my pocket (and on my vitae) but they seem small now.

Yes, I am daring ... because then I cannot hide anymore and have to tend to these babies ...

Well, one dream: to spend a semester or a year in Scotland in a lovely cottage near a village where my daughter can learn about Nature, community, the joys of Simple living and being in the moment. My husband would be on sabbatical and teaching at a nearby college where we would meet and mingle with wonderfully creative, funny and warm people. (hmm ... guess I am adding to this dream a hope that not all University communities are the same!)

Now my reality is, I am moving my 84 year old mother cross country to be closer to us, so responsibilities will probably mean this dream is Long Range.

So more immediate dreams: I find a way to leave my mind numbing but secure job for a life cobbled together with teaching yoga, art and inspirational classes/workshops that I have longed to take. To tap into a community of like-minded mothers who share wisdom and comfort and tips for parenting mindfully, creatively, artfully and spiritually. That I begin to write the book I wish I had right now: a yoga of parenting. And in that book I not only share my experiences, writing from the heart, I also (I'm going big here) illustrate it with my own artwork (which means I find my creative voice & medium). Oh, and I do this all for me (and my daughter) and take pleasure in the process and let go of the gremlins that taunt me to look up and focus upon the end result.

I am hitting the Post button now ...

Thank you and please, keep the fire on us!

[amanda]

You are so fabulous. I love this. I have taken no baby steps on my dream yet - if you visit my blog, you will see that my most recent entries are those of someone who is kind of drowning in anxiety at the moment - but I want to get out. I WILL get out.

[nicole kraft]

Oh Stacy! I am sitting here with tears in my eyes and goosebumps all over. You have unlocked something in my heart... You are in my prayers--I support you in your dream! You will get there--I can feel it. And not only have you had the courage to share your dream with the Universe, you are inviting us all to share ours. I read your prior post below and felt intimidated to share my dreams, but after this--how could I not?

So here goes: My dream is to live part time in the US (most likely Portland, OR) and part time in Hawaii (to escape the rainy Northwest winters). My dream is support myself solely from my writing, photography, and art. My dream is to be flexible enough to "unschool" my son. My dream is to write and publish a book. My dream is to travel the world, taking photos of interesting people and sharing their stories with others. My dream is to help inspire and empower other mothers. My dream is to live near and be connected to kindred souls and my true spiritual family.

It's funny, once it's written--it doesn't seem so crazy. Thanks, Stacy. You're awesome.

xoxo
Nicole

[nicole kraft]

Oh, and after reading Stef's dream of driving a VW bus around, I have to add that I'd also like a VW camper (biodiesel) for family trips and to haul around surf boards in Hawaii. :)

Now I'm thinking that I'm going to write a "love letter to the Universe" as my prayer and as a way to let my dreams be known. Thank you again for the inspiration.

N

[darlene]

i am so excited for you honey, so very excited :-) living your dreams is the stuff for sure or so i am finding ... http://djkreutzer.com/moments/archives/527

love you and can't wait to wrap my arms around you, xoxo

[sueberry]

Then pendant in the photo is lovely -- I like the skeleton key charm, of course!

Best of luck to you in following this Parisian dream, my dear!! Everything is within reach. XOXO

[Tina]

Some of my very baby steps.

I spoke aloud to my sister that I would like the crush to like me back. . .hopefully love. Seriously 7 years!

I'm slowly selling things to try and payoff a loan I have so the dream of staying home with my children is more of a possibility.

I know this next step doesn't seem like it is related but it has been helpful. I have been cleaning out and organizing as much as I can to create space for me. I like openness and a lot of space and that has been helpful.

That's what I have for now, and again Thank you so much!

[Linni]

Oh Stacy! Vibrant! Alive! Energetic and jumping up and down with excitement.....for dreams do come true...

It's been proven. Don't say out things loud that you don't want....cause wishes do come true...

i'm already imagining you and Bella walking through the streets in Paris....stopping in your tracks...looking up to the blue skies....breathing in the air of possibilities...and dreams coming true....

i see you dancing writing under the Eiffel tower...with Bella picking little flowers to shower you with...you can hear her giggles from a mile...and Jimmy watching you proudly...

oeeeeee....this is what dreams are made off...have you start packing?! heehee!!!! Gorgeous friend!!! Are you ready!? xx

[Marjorie]

Hello Stacy, I just ran across this post today. Thank you so much for your very nice comments about my website. Don't get discouraged. Everything is possible. I think the most important thing is to be true to yourself and follow your heart. Dreams really do come true so keep yourself open to the possibilities.