Certainty

“The only two certainties in life are death and taxes,” wrote politicians and authors of the 18th century, though who exactly coined this saying is debated. I'd like to add a few more things to that list of life certainties: stubbing your toe and bee stings will always hurt; and sometimes those who love you most or who you love most will hurt you the most, though probably not intentionally. In any case, pain is pain, but I believe it is how we deal with the pain that makes all the difference. And, learning how to deal takes a deep level of patience, compassion, and introspection.

Your Garden Gallivanter has been away from the glorious bee farm in the French Alps since December, back in her sunny Los Angeles hometown, visiting family, catching up with friends, and taking time to reflect on these 'life certainties' and countryside dreams. Do pardon her for not posting in a while. 

Mon joie de vivre, Jet, et moi à la plage. 

I've discovered, sometimes it helps to work backwards. Perhaps the question is not, "what we want to do now?" but rather, "where do we want to end up?". And, a question most important to me, "what will become of my heart through this process?". Will working to get to where I wish to be in the end uplift me, expanding my heart, making it bigger to hold even more beauties and experiences of life?And, even if I don't get to that particular 'end' I envision, will the process still expand my heart, making it not only bigger to hold those beautiful experiences, but also stronger, to deal with those ugly ones, those unpleasant certainties of real life? 

Perhaps the only certainty in life is what we make of the moment we are in. There is no guarantee of the next second. It's either written in the stars for us, or it is not. Maybe life is about cultivating a certain belief in the beauty of our dreams. And, while those dreams may change, may prove to be totally not what we thought, at least we cultivate a better understanding of ourselves through the process, even if it hurts. 

In French there is the phrase, joie de vivre, which we have adopted into our English Language. It can be translated as: a joy of living; a delight in being alive, keen, carefree. Recently, I saw a documentary about this woman in her 90s named Iris Apfel. She is a New Yorker, a world icon in fashion, art, and design. Though not a gardener or bee keeper, Iris is the epitome of joie de vivre, and anyone as creative, joyful and dares to be herself at any age, is worth mentioning, and being inspired by. Iris is known for her big glasses, big bangles and colorful ensembles which she has collected from all over the world and showcased in world renown art galleries. But, a part from all that, she continues to live so actively, genuinely, curiously, and creatively, with such a sentimentality for things and a respect for the creative process. And that is why I think so many people love her. 

While my dreams of a countryside life in southern France are still in the making, with many uncertainties and surely wonderful surprises ahead; there is one thing for certain, and that is that these dreams imbue me with a joie de vivre worth chasing. The chase begins next Friday as I fly back to Le Rucher Des Gorges de Daluis for another season of beekeeping! A bientôt! 




*photo by Tiffanie Ma