Early Fall in Paris has always been a special season for me. I love the cooler temperatures, changing colors on the leaves and in the sky, and I always feel an energy shift in myself. I think it really goes back to the semester abroad that I spent here in 2012.
Up until I moved to Paris last year, that semester was the biggest, craziest, most out of the box thing I’d ever done. I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t speak the language, and I definitely didn’t know the city. My favorite thing to do was to simply explore with no particular destination in mind. That’s how I discovered Paris.
When I moved last year there were definitely parallels to Fall 2012. I discovered new routines, new normals, and new to me places in Paris. This time however I felt more settled. I knew Paris, I knew people, I knew my neighborhood, and I knew a little bit of French. Language school helped immensely with not only my French but also my routine. It was an exciting time and it flew by.
This year was a little different. I went back to Dallas in August, and apart from a day and a half, wasn’t back in Paris until mid-September. When I came back again, it was only for a week. After that, only three days. I absolutely can’t complain because I’m so lucky to travel for work and pleasure, but I realized that I think there’s something so essential about experiencing the transition from summer to fall for me.
Fall in Paris brings me back to 2012, to 2018, and the September trips in-between that I took for Fashion Week. It’s a time that inspires and re-energizes me, but more than that I’ve realized it grounds me. As much as I don’t love to admit it, I thrive with routines and stability in my schedule.
Since I’ve been back in Paris I’ve struggled to get back into a flow with my routine. The city that always inspires me simply by being outside just…wasn’t. I couldn’t put a finger on why or what was causing it until this morning. I realized I needed to discover something new.
All it took was going to a new café. The second that I walked in I knew it was exactly what I needed. A warm and cozy atmosphere, a good playlist (there was some Justin Timberlake…but it felt right), and kind and welcoming people (I’ve been so lucky that people like this have been a normal part of my Paris experience).
As of this morning, I feel officially ready to take on Fall in Paris head on. I can’t wait for the rest of the season and new discoveries that lie ahead.