Sonia Marsh - Gutsy Living

Life's too short to play it safe

“Bonjour 40 days in Paris”

by

The 4-0 Equation.

By Karen A. Chase

Author of Bonjour 40: A Paris travel log

(40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds)

 Karen Chase published an exciting book called “Bonjour 40” about how she planned something unique and “Gutsy” to celebrate her 40th birthday. She stayed in Paris for a month. Karen offered to Guest post the “4-0 equation” today and for those of you who love Paris or want to learn more about Paris, the food, the people and the way of life, please jump over to Karen’s website, watch the book trailer and download or order her book. She has some great photos of her month in Paris.

The dreaded 4-0. Forty. It happens to every woman, right? Yes. Even to me. When I turned 39 last year, my parents happily said, “Welcome to your 40th year on the planet. Where will you go when you actually turn 40 next year?” I was going to be 40., like it or not, so I better plan for it.

Although my parents were teasing me, their intentions were good. They wanted to find out how I was going to embrace my age. I’m not one to shy away from growing older, because I hope it also means I’m growing wiser. Their question of where would I go really made me stop and think. I could roll over and groan about my number of years, and go out to the same restaurant to celebrate, or I could revel in my milestone birthday and use it to take stock of my life. So I did.

I planned for a year, and just after my 40th, I booked a month off from my life, took the money I would have otherwise invested in my IRA, and went to Paris for a month. I went alone for the first three and half weeks so I could get to know Paris, and be forced to speak French. I can honestly say I wasn’t afraid to do it. “Gusty!” a few friends called me.

“No,” I thought. Amelia Earhart circumnavigating the globe on a solo flight is gutsy. My little adventure was nothing compared to that! However if others see me that way, maybe it’s because Amelia and I are both examples of how “gutsy” doesn’t happen overnight.

My trip to Paris didn’t seem bold to me because my trip came after traveling alone on short weekend adventures first. It came after moving across the continent, and after experiencing a nine-day trip to Maine on my own a few years ago. Perhaps Amelia’s last solo flight didn’t feel gutsy to her after she’d taken lessons, helped invest in an airport, and flown solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Maybe gusty is a product of having gumption. Maybe having guts is simply getting up each day and trying new things. I recall one of my last days alone in Paris. I was riding on a rented bike through the city during rush hour without a helmet. I remember the thrill of knowing where I was going, knowing I had chosen to be in Paris, and that I was embracing my life. My age. I was forty and loving it. I was happy. And there it was. There was my life’s equation.

Gumption = gutsy = embracing new things = happiness.

What’s your life’s equation?

******

CONTEST GIVEAWAY BY KAREN CHASE

Thanks Karen for your wonderful story and for motivating us to do something different and special, like you did.

To go along with our writing contest called, “My Gutsy Story”, Karen Chase has kindly offered a free copy of her book and a 5″x7″ print of one of her Paris photos from the book.

The first person who sends in a “My Gutsy Story” to our contest which is selected for our Monday post wins a free copy of her book and a 5″x7″ print of one of her Paris photos from the book.

Please remember to vote for your favorite “My Gutsy Story” for November. You have until December 13th, to pick your favorite story.

What do you think of Karen’s adventure? What would you like to do to celebrate a special birthday?

Comments

    • Gutsy Writer says

      Ola, don’t be scared. Every year you get older, you get to find out who you really are.

  4. Stephanie says

    I’ll be 50 next year, and, Ola, that really IS scary! However, I like Karen’s idea of doing something very different. I won’t be able to get away from the business for long since summer is our busy time, but maybe I could plan a little trip somewhere … I shall have to get organised.
    Stephanie recently posted..Sunflowers, Spying and a Couple of SantasMy Profile

  5. Karen A. Chase says

    Hi everyone. Thank you so much for chiming in on the blog and the idea of doing something different for our birthdays. I remember Oprah saying when she was thirty she was smoking, when she was forty she was hot, and “now that I am 50 I’m on fire.” Granted we all don’t have the life of Oprah, but she makes a great point that how we see ourselves has an impact. I saw 40 coming and wondered what I would look like. I’m not kidding when I say I envisioned myself in Paris. Somehow the idea of me standing along the Seine, my hair long, in a dress, turning 40, made me feel 29. Not everyone can have Paris, but it made me feel so young. It was worth every penny I spent in Paris instead of sending it to my IRA (which would simply have made no money in this economy anyways)!
    Karen A. Chase recently posted..First Fridays: Heirloom OriginalsMy Profile

    • Gutsy Writer says

      Thanks Karen for visiting and commenting. I used to live and work in Paris until I was 25, so I can relate to what you mention in Bonjour 40. Good luck with your wonderful story and please keep in touch. Sonia.

      • Karen A. Chase says

        I will be sure to stay in touch. Please let me know, especially if you return to Paris or France for a trip! I’ll let you know as Ciao60 draws near, too. Ted, my partner, turns 60 next fall, and it looks like Italy it will be (probably not for 60 days though!)
        Karen A. Chase recently posted..First Fridays: Heirloom OriginalsMy Profile

    • Sonia Marsh says

      I agree. I told a friend who was overwhelmed with her job and didn’t like it any more about you and that perhaps she needs to take a month of to figure things out. She liked that idea.

  7. Muriel says

    What a great story! I have just turned 39 and I like the idea of getting a month just for myself! I would go to the other side of the world. Worth a thought!

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