Day 15 of 60 | Bonjour, Paris! 🇫🇷✨
Why Did I Really Come to Paris?
Do you think it’s because I’m a foodie chasing the world’s best croissants or coffee?
Because I want to cook even a tiny fraction as beautifully as Chef Joseph or Chef Edward at my hotel in Hawaii, mastering the art of French cuisine?
Or maybe you think I’m here plotting my next big business move, with Paris as the perfect backdrop?
There’s a little truth in all of that. But those aren’t the real reasons I’ve devoted two precious months of my life to being here.
If you’ve been part of The Inspired group for a while, you probably already know where this is headed. And if you’re new here (welcome 😎), by the end of this post you’ll understand a little more about what drives me, and maybe, what being here really means.
Because nearly every big decision I’ve ever made, every leap, every risk, and every adventure has been guided by one force: inspiration.
I’m always either searching to be inspired or hoping to pass that spark on to someone else.
Over time, I’ve learned that what inspires me most isn’t success, or beauty, or adventure alone.
It’s those rare, goosebump moments when you choose a new way of doing or being, and something deep inside whispers, “This is it. This is really living.”
A few years ago, I went on an epic quest to discover and fully embrace The Bliss Way. It was my journey to rediscover joy in some of the world’s most beautiful corners: Lake Como, Kauai, Los Cabos, and islands scattered across turquoise seas.
Along that path, I decided to share what I was learning, which became a special company - Bliss Champions.
It was all about helping others feel fully alive again (while I did so myself too!). And for seven amazing years, alongside my incredible business partner Patrick Combs, we lived that mission so fully, with so much passion and purpose, that one day we both woke up and said, “We’re good! Nothing left to do here. We’ve fully lived The Bliss Way. What adventures await us next?”
The Bliss Way overlapped with The Hawaiian Way. I relocated to Hawaii and spent four unforgettable years there. Hawaii taught me peace, patience, and presence, lessons that continue to echo through my life.
Hawaii, and the people, properties, and businesses we built there, will always be a huge part of my story. But now, it feels more like the result of a love affair that produced beautiful offspring.
Today, Hawaii is less about my personal experience and more about supporting and inspiring others to experience The Hawaiian Way. I’ve become a Paternal Host rather than a Participant.
A year and a half ago, I began The Healthy Way. I moved from Hawaii to Brickell, Miami, where I shed over 100 pounds (80 net!) and gained something far more precious — my health, my energy, and, hopefully, more time. This Way is here to stay. 💪
And now… The French Way.
A few nights ago, I had one of those quiet, cinematic moments that catch you off guard, when you realize you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. (I even shared a video from part of it.)
I was walking home from my favorite Parisian café when I stumbled upon a saxophonist painting the night air with familiar, soul-stirring melodies. A small crowd had gathered around this immensely talented street performer. I found a lamppost to lean on, a quiet decision to stay and savor the moment for however long it lasted. The Eiffel Tower was the backdrop, swaying to the music with its lights twinkling. Local teenagers laughed and sang along. Little children danced. Strangers smiled at one another. No one was rushing. No one was buried in their phones. Everyone was here. Just joy. Just life. Just now.
It was magic, the kind you can’t plan for, and the kind you rarely find if you never step beyond your comfort zone. 😎
Every afternoon brings another glimpse of The French Way at my favorite little coffee shop in the 7th arrondissement.
The owner’s son, a young man with a heart as warm as his espresso, always takes time to chat. His father was a legendary local chef for fifty years, so he loves hearing about my cooking school adventures. His girlfriend, the pastry chef, is a bit shy but slowly warming up. They’re a mixed couple, just like Lori and me.
They’re not in a hurry. They’re not performing. They’re simply present. Every conversation reminds me why I love connecting with people wherever I go. You learn so much, and your heart expands, when you experience such simple displays of kindness and humanity.
And then there’s my school. Every day, I’m surrounded by students alive with passion, pouring their hearts into the art of cooking. You can see it in their eyes. You can feel it in the room. It’s purpose in motion. It’s inspiration, embodied.
So yes, I love the food here. But that’s not why I’m here.
I came to Paris to remember that life isn’t about how much you accomplish — it’s about how deeply you experience it.
And when these eight weeks come to an end, another new chapter will begin for Lori and me: The Italian Way. 🇮🇹
It’s one I’ve been manifesting for some time, and you’ll be the first to hear about it once inspiration strikes and I’m ready to share!
Because this isn’t just about travel, or food, or culture, or Lori and me rewarding ourselves. It’s about learning to live fully. To do and to be intentionally. To experience life beautifully, one Way at a time, with a pinch of overlap, of course. 😎
Thank you all for being here, walking these paths with me. Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing something very special. Until then — à demain. 🇫🇷✨
