4 Weeks In France

After spending a month immersed in French culture, from the bustling streets of Paris to the serene Alpine villages, I've returned home with more than just memories and a questionable attempt at speaking French.

Here are four profound lessons that have shifted how I think about life, health, and what truly matters.

1. Experience Different to Understand Yourself

There's something magical about stepping completely outside your normal environment. Living in France for four weeks wasn't just about seeing new places, it was about discovering which parts of my current life actually serve me and which are just habits I've never questioned.

Watching how the French prioritize long lunches, genuine conversation, and work-life boundaries made me realize how much I've accepted the "always on" mentality as normal. Sometimes you need to experience a completely different way of living to understand what you actually want your life to look like.

2. Mountains Are Medicine

The French Alps became my sanctuary. There's something about mountains that strips away the noise, both external and internal. But it's more than just the scenery. These communities have a deep respect for their environment and traditions. People genuinely take pride in their homes, their neighborhoods, their shared spaces.

Walking through villages where families have lived for generations, where every building tells a story, reminded me of the importance of belonging somewhere and caring for the places we call home.

3. Less is Actually More

Here's a fascinating paradox: France has significantly lower obesity rates than the UK and US, despite their love affair with cheese, bread, pastries, and rich meats. The secret? Fewer ingredients.

French cuisine focuses on quality over quantity, simplicity over complexity. A perfect tomato with good olive oil and fresh herbs beats any processed meal with 30 unpronounceable ingredients. Their approach to food taught me that restriction isn't about eliminating pleasure, it's about maximizing it through intentional choices.

4. Movement as a Way of Life

In Paris, walking isn't exercise, it's transportation. Families in the mountains don't "work out", they hike, ski, and explore together. This isn't about hitting step goals or burning calories; it's about integrating movement so seamlessly into daily life that it becomes invisible.

This consistent, gentle movement allows the French to fully enjoy their incredible food culture without guilt or consequence. It's not about perfection, it's about balance as a lifestyle, not a goal.

The Best Investment You Can Make

For me, travel remains the ultimate form of self-growth. Every new place challenges your assumptions, builds confidence, and expands your understanding of what's possible. You return home not just with stories, but with a clearer sense of who you are and who you want to become.

What's one way you could experience life differently this week?

See you next week

Billy Hudspith

Your High Performance Wellbeing Creator