I woke up to the warm summer sun kissing my face through the teeny tiny window in my teeny tiny apartment and the distant sound of a neighbor practicing piano. This was going to be a good weekend, I could just feel it. I immediately got up to give it a jump start and off to my new Saturday morning tradition of going to 'Body Attack' at my gym. This class is like aerobics crack. I'm addicted to it, so much that I make sure that I don't get too drunk the night before so I am not hungover as I take on the highest intensity of cardio in my life. After the class, I opted to just leave instead of taking a shower and changing into the Parisian standard of street clothes. Cute dresses, ballet flats and scarves. I was feeling rebellious and instead, wore my unsightly trainers, leggings and sweat stained t-shirt. Quelle bellegosse!
I bopped down the street with a high wagging pony-tail while listening to Ke$ha and caught a glimpse of myself in a store front window. I couldn't help but chuckle. I was so American. I figured I might as well top off the look with the ultimate American accessory. An iced latte. Non-fat of course. And what do you know? A Starbucks appeared as I was approaching Bastille. I don't frequent Starbucks here because it is a bit on the pricey side and while I wouldn't exactly boast Paris for its amazing coffee (That's Italy's thing) I'm usually pretty satisfied with a 1 euro espresso in a local brasserie. But today was special, I ordered a grande iced vanilla latte and enjoyed the sensory memory the taste had, whisking me back to 1999; a simpler time during the early stages of my caffeine addiction.
What is it about exercise, a little caffeine and sunshine that changes your mood? Could it be that I am crossing over into the next phase of the break-up? True acceptance and a renewed appreciation of being in my own company? Today is about regaining comfort in my own skin and appreciating the little things around me.
