Madness Must Be Love Live

[Rule Uresti]

Monetthe son of a grocery store owner who defied his father to become an artist, most enjoyed painting the French countryside. So much that he and his family settled in Giverny, a small idyllic village located approximately 50 miles west of Paris, in 1883. During the last 40 years of his life, he primarily painted scenes from his garden that he painstakingly created.

He was passionate about gardening as well as color and designed his garden of flowers as if they were works of art. In turn, his garden became the inspiration for many of his greatest works of art, such as those with the Japanese bridge and the water lily pond.

Following advice that we read online, we headed straight for the Water Garden and Japanese bridge since that is a popular area for photos and can get crowded. To get there, we had to cross the entire Clos-Normand area and go through an underpass to get to the Water Garden. (On the map, #2 is the entrance and #7 is the underpass.)

When we got there, slightly out of breath, there were 2 or 3 people already on the bridge (they must have run all the way there?!). I quickly positioned myself at the bridge overlooking the pond and asked Ken to take some pics from behind me with our beloved Nikon D750 (newer model D780 here). Very soon afterwards though, the bridge became quite crowded with a line forming for pictures. When I went back later to take pictures from another perspective (with Ken further away), we had to wait at least 10 minutes for our turn, and we had to make it very quick since I was sure that the bridge had reached weight capacity by that time!

As we strolled around the pond, we enjoyed the view from the different angles and appreciated the vine-filled metal arches that were also perfect photo opportunities. If only we could have the place to ourselves!

Having fully enjoyed the Water Garden, we headed back to the Clos-Normand part of the garden, which was less crowded (except for inside and around the pink house). This whole area is so charming and looks just like a picture book. The garden is full of carefree wildflowers with areas of more organized plantings. Plants are allowed to overflow onto the paths for a less formal look, which I loved.

The second most popular spot in the garden is the pink house that Monet and his family lived in. By the time we made it there, the inside was very crowded and it was difficult to even move around, much less take any pictures! We did a quick tour and went back outside instead. We did spend some time appreciating the layout, the many paintings hanging on the walls, and the historical notes. I love visiting homes of historical figures!

Since we visited Giverny as part of our Normandy road trip, we rented a car from the airport and drove there ourselves. Our drive from the airport was approximately 1.5 hours long, passing by the beautiful French countryside.

To appreciate and explore the charming village and area more, we stayed overnight in Giverny, and were so glad we did! We stayed at La Dme, a beautifully renovated historical farmhouse turned B&B and wedding venue (TripAdvisor reviews here). Read more about my stay in Giverny here.

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Love your life, do you? Or do you occasionally feel unhappy, confident that you'd be much happier if you had a larger home, better relationships, more money, fascinating hobbies, and the admiration of your peers?

So many people continue to chase happiness, telling themselves that a new video game, wardrobe, raise in pay, or trip will somehow make them happier. Many associate success with happiness, and success with wealth. However, a lot of wealthy people are unhappy.

You frequently come across individuals who appear to maintain their happiness, brightness, and optimism despite their circumstances. Perhaps they have ongoing health issues, they lack funds for non-essentials, or they have suffered some terrible setbacks in life. Nevertheless, they never stop smiling and are inspiring to be around.

Many have the propensity to believe that other people have it better than they do or that their current situation isn't as favorable as it once was. They are struggling with accepting what is. Do you ever have thoughts similar to these?

Reflect and make a simple list of the wonderful things in your life. These could be large or little. Make a list of positive events from the previous week. Maybe you and a friend had a wonderful talk, or maybe you heard an uplifting podcast, like Soul Solutions. Perhaps you have some free time to read a book. Maybe you received kudos at work for a project you finished. Once you've identified some of the wonderful aspects of your life, attempt to emphasize these aspects more frequently.

I believe everyone can love the life they are living if they take time and reevaluate their priorities and change their perspective. Here are twelve action steps you can take to love the life you have.

Because you spend so much time thinking about the past and worrying about the future, you find it challenging to enjoy the moment. While reflecting on the past and making plans for the future can be helpful, attempt to ensure that you are focusing most of your attention on the present moment. Let go of regrets. Keep in mind that dwelling on your regrets won't alter the past; rather, it will simply sour your present happiness. Make amends, attempt to learn from your missteps, let them go, and focus your attention on building a life you love instead.

You must begin to love yourself if you want to fully love your life. When life isn't going the way you want it to, especially, you see yourself in the worst possible light. However, it's vital to avoid being hard on yourself and placing blame on yourself simply because you believe something in your life hasn't worked out. Try constantly reminding yourself of all the positive traits you offer and all the victories and achievements you have made so far instead of focusing on harsh comparisons with others and all your perceived flaws and learn to appreciate the distinctive person you are.

It's simple to fall into a rut when you repeat the same actions daily, allowing your days to pass in a routine-filled blur. Why not shake up your daily or weekly schedule starting right now by committing to doing one simple thing differently? Try a different workout, wear something you wouldn't often wear, or perhaps change the coffee you order. Additionally, avoid the temptation to put off being joyful by waiting until everything is perfect. Instead, liven up a dreary day by donning your favorite silk scarf or a special piece of jewelry, or by treating yourself to something special. Make every day count and stop waiting for exceptional events to live a flourishing life.

Many frequently spend more time doing the things they should do than the things they want to do, which prevents them from doing the things that truly make them happy. Organize how you spend your time by mentally going through your week and noting everything you do and how much time you spend on it. This will prevent you from letting your valuable time pass you by. Once your week is laid out in front of you, you can consciously choose how to make the most of your time, what to give up, and how to make way for more worthwhile pursuits.

You lose a lot of time because of protracted commutes, boring lunch breaks, and repetitive morning routines. Try to maximize these hours to get the most fulfilling day. For instance, read or listen to a good book on the way to work and during lunch, exercise, or engage in creative activities like writing or sketching. Make the most of your mornings as a priceless window of time for some me time. Get up early and luxuriate in your favorite TV show, a decadent breakfast in bed, or a luxury bubble bath instead of the shower. You can begin loving your life from the time you wake up if you spend your mornings doing something you enjoy.

People have the bad habit of talking and whining about their problems but rarely consider how to resolve them. Instead of seeing yourself as a victim, reinvent yourself as a problem-solver and consider how you may improve your life. Write all the things that upset you or that you would like to pivot in a new direction, along with any potential fixes. Then devise a strategy to address each issue separately.

Although accepting challenges and being active can be excellent ways to improve your life, taking on too much can have the exact opposite effect. Even if you are someone who appreciates a lot of responsibility and thrives under pressure, everyone has a limit, and taking on too much will cause tension and anxiety. Know your boundaries and develop the ability to say no, whether you need to outsource a task at work or decline an invitation to a social function if you want to enhance your happiness.

You frequently go through your days doing things that don't challenge you or make you feel alive. Step outside of your comfort zone, and create some goals and objectives for yourself. Add excitement and a feeling of adventure to your life if you feel you need to get out of a rut. Determine what you want to do and create a plan to make it happen, whether you want to take on a physical challenge, aim higher, meet a short-term objective, or realize a long-term desire.

You frequently spend your time anticipating the next big event in your life and waiting for your next burst of joy. To fully love your life, though, you must begin to appreciate each day and the little things that bring you joy. Make a note of the little things you enjoy doing every day, such as eating your favorite meal, listening to your favorite music, or having breakfast in bed, and be sure to schedule one of these pleasures for each day.

The most important possibilities, lessons, and blessings in life are found in your relationships with other people. When you're going through the craziness of life by yourself, it's simple to believe you have everything under control. You're called to practice the skill of giving and receiving to maintain healthy relationships. However, the greatest benefits come from your bonds with other people. Every relationship is about cherishing each other despite living in a selfish world. Because love is something that you need to nurture so it can grow. Life without the ability to share it with those we cherish becomes meaningless. You need others and they need you.

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