As my time in Paris draws to a close, I find myself naturally turning toward gratitude. These three weeks have been a journey of presence, receptivity, and now, deep appreciation. Paris has offered countless gifts—from magnificent art and architecture to quiet moments of connection and insight. This final week, I focus on breathing practices that help me fully acknowledge and absorb these blessings before returning home.
Building on the foundation of presence from week one and receptivity from week two, I now explore how gratitude can serve as both a culmination and an integration of the entire journey. Each location I visit this week offers a unique opportunity to express thanks for different aspects of my Paris experience and my life as a whole.
Van Gogh's Montmartre: Gratitude for Creative Vision
The serene church architecture in Paris - a place for contemplation and gratitude
My final week begins in Montmartre, the historic artists' quarter where Van Gogh once lived and worked. After visiting the small apartment building where he stayed with his brother Theo, I wander the winding streets that have inspired countless artists over the centuries.
What strikes me most about Van Gogh's story is how he transformed suffering into beauty through his unique vision. Despite personal struggles, he maintained a profound appreciation for the world's visual splendor—finding extraordinary meaning in ordinary subjects like sunflowers, wheat fields, and starry nights.
Sitting at a small café with a view of Sacré-Cœur, I practice a meditation focused on gratitude for vision—not just physical sight, but the ability to perceive beauty and meaning in the world around me. With each breath, I acknowledge this gift that so often goes unrecognized.
I think of my son and his wife, who share a love of art and visited this same neighborhood during their honeymoon. My son had mentioned how walking these streets gave him a deeper appreciation for Van Gogh's work, seeing the actual light and landscapes that inspired the artist. I send him a message sharing my similar experience, grateful for this connection across time and distance.
Montmartre Gratitude for Vision Practice
Find a spot with an interesting view of Montmartre or the city below.
Begin with three centering breaths, becoming fully present with your surroundings.
Gently close your eyes and acknowledge the gift of sight that you normally take for granted.
Open your eyes and really look at what's before you, as if seeing it for the first time.
With each inhale, silently name something you can see that brings you joy.
With each exhale, express gratitude for the ability to perceive this beauty.
Expand your gratitude to include not just physical sight but inner vision—the ability to perceive meaning, possibility, and connection.
In my journal, I reflect on how this practice transformed my experience of Montmartre from tourist sightseeing to something more profound. By consciously acknowledging the gift of vision, both outer and inner, I found myself noticing details I might otherwise have missed—the particular quality of light on stone buildings, the expressions on people's faces, the patterns of shadows cast by wrought-iron balconies.
Luxembourg Gardens Revisited: Gratitude for the Journey
The Water Lily Pond sign surrounded by vibrant flowers - a perfect spot for gratitude meditation
Midweek, I return to Luxembourg Gardens, where my meditation journey began three weeks ago. Revisiting this space with new eyes becomes a powerful exercise in recognizing growth and change. The gardens themselves haven't changed, but my relationship to them—and to myself—has evolved significantly.
Finding the same green metal chair where I first practiced breath awareness, I now engage in a meditation focused on gratitude for the journey. With each breath, I acknowledge how far I've come—not in physical distance, but in awareness, openness, and appreciation.
This practice involves mentally revisiting each location from the past three weeks, acknowledging what each place taught me and expressing gratitude for these lessons. From the initial presence practices at Luxembourg Gardens, Canal Saint-Martin, and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, to the receptivity experiences at Sainte-Chapelle, the Grand Mosque, the Louvre, and Sacré-Cœur, each site has contributed to a tapestry of growth and insight.
I think of my best girlfriend who has shared much of this journey with me, grateful for her companionship and the ways our experiences have both paralleled and diverged. I'm also filled with gratitude for our generous Parisian host, whose hospitality has made this extended stay possible and whose local knowledge has enriched our exploration.
Luxembourg Gardens Gratitude for the Journey Practice
Find a comfortable seat in a location that feels significant to you.
Begin with three deep breaths, grounding yourself in the present moment.
Mentally revisit each significant location from your Paris journey.
For each place, inhale while recalling what you experienced there.
As you exhale, express gratitude for what that experience taught you.
Notice any changes in how you perceive yourself and the world now compared to when you began.
End by placing a hand on your heart, acknowledging your own willingness to grow and change.
My journal entry from this session explores the metaphor of journey—how physical travel so often mirrors inner transformation. I note specific shifts in my awareness: a greater capacity for presence without distraction, an increased ability to receive without judgment, and a deeper appreciation for both beauty and challenge.
The Seine River Cruise: Gratitude for Flow and Perspective
The magnificent Seine River with its historic bridge and beautiful architecture
For my final full day in Paris, I take an evening cruise on the Seine River. As the boat glides past illuminated monuments and under historic bridges, I practice a meditation focused on gratitude for flow and perspective.
The river itself becomes a powerful teacher—constantly moving yet always the same, reflecting the city's lights while remaining essentially unchanged by them. This paradox offers insight into how we might relate to experience: fully engaged with life's flow while maintaining a steady center.
From the water, familiar landmarks appear in new relationships to one another. Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower—all are seen from a different angle, creating a more integrated understanding of the city's layout. Similarly, this final meditation helps me integrate the various practices and insights from the past three weeks into a cohesive whole.
I think of my dog Tobi waiting for me back home, my son and his wife with their Paris honeymoon memories, my friends in Oregon, and my supportive partner. From this distance, I can see more clearly how each relationship contributes to the ecosystem of my life—how each connection offers unique gifts and teaches particular lessons.
Seine River Gratitude for Flow Practice
Find a comfortable position where you can see both the river and the passing cityscape.
Synchronize your breath with the movement of the boat through water.
As you inhale, acknowledge something you're taking with you from this journey.
As you exhale, express gratitude for this gift.
Notice how landmarks appear, shift position, and recede as you pass them.
Reflect on how this changing perspective mirrors your own evolving understanding.
End by setting an intention to maintain this flow of gratitude beyond your time in Paris.
In my journal, I reflect on how this river perspective has changed my understanding of Paris. What began as a collection of separate destinations has become an interconnected whole, with the Seine as its unifying element. Similarly, what began as separate meditation practices has evolved into an integrated approach to presence, receptivity, and gratitude.
Preparing for Return: Gratitude as Integration
A quintessential Parisian street scene - the perfect setting for final reflections
On my final evening, I sit at a small neighborhood café with my journal, preparing mentally and emotionally for the return home. This transition becomes an opportunity to practice gratitude as a form of integration—acknowledging all I've received and considering how to incorporate these gifts into my ongoing life.
My meditation now focuses on gratitude for transformation. With each breath, I acknowledge how this journey has changed me and express thanks for both the pleasant and challenging aspects of this growth. The practice involves mentally packing these changes like treasures in a suitcase, ensuring they make the journey home with me.
I think about specific ways to integrate these practices into my daily routine back home: finding local parks that might evoke Luxembourg Gardens, identifying art museums that could offer Louvre-like contemplation, creating a small meditation space in my home with mementos from this journey.
I also consider how to share these gifts with others—not just through stories and photos, but by bringing a more present, receptive, and grateful quality to my relationships. I make plans to teach my partner the breathing practices I've learned, to explore local meditation spots with friends, and to create a small album of Paris-inspired meditation prompts to share with my son and his wife.
Café Integration Practice
Find a quiet moment with your journal or simply in contemplation.
Begin with three grateful breaths, acknowledging the journey as a whole.
For each significant insight or practice you've gained, inhale its essence.
As you exhale, imagine how this gift might take form in your home environment.
Consider potential obstacles to integration and breathe through any resistance.
Set one specific, achievable intention for continuing each key practice.
End by expressing gratitude to Paris itself for hosting your journey.
My journal entry explores the concept of souvenirs—how the most valuable things I'm taking home aren't physical objects but practices, perspectives, and renewed awareness. I make a list of specific commitments: five minutes of breath awareness each morning, weekly visits to local gardens or art spaces, regular gratitude journaling, and sharing these practices with loved ones.
Departure Day: Gratitude as Completion
The magnificent Louvre pyramid from inside - a final glimpse of Parisian architectural wonder
On my final morning in Paris, I wake early to practice one last meditation before the busy activities of departure begin. Sitting by the window of my host's apartment, I watch the city awaken as the first light touches the rooftops and chimneys.
This practice focuses on gratitude as completion—acknowledging that endings are as important as beginnings and middles. With each breath, I express thanks for the full arc of this journey, from the initial excitement of arrival through the deep explorations of the past three weeks to this moment of conscious closure.
I think of all the people who have made this journey possible and meaningful: my host, my traveling companion, the various Parisians who offered directions or conversations, the artists and architects whose work has inspired me, and my loved ones back home who supported this adventure. With each breath, I acknowledge one of these contributions to my experience.
As I prepare to leave for the airport, I take one final walk around the neighborhood, practicing a walking meditation of gratitude. With each step, I silently thank Paris for a specific gift: its beauty, its history, its art, its food, its parks, its rivers, its people, and most of all, the space it has provided for my own inner journey.
Departure Gratitude Practice
Find a quiet moment before the activities of departure.
Begin with three deep breaths, becoming fully present to this transition.
Place a hand on your heart and acknowledge the fullness of your experience.
With each inhale, recall a specific memory from your journey.
With each exhale, express gratitude for this experience.
Acknowledge any sadness about leaving and transform it into appreciation for having had the experience.
End by setting an intention to carry the essence of Paris with you wherever you go.
My final journal entry from Paris reflects on the Buddhist teaching of impermanence—how the transitory nature of experience makes it more precious rather than less. I note how this journey, precisely because it is ending, has taught me to value each moment more fully. The practices of presence, receptivity, and gratitude have shown me how to engage more deeply with life, whether in an extraordinary setting like Paris or in the familiar surroundings of home.
Integration: The Three-Part Breath of Travel
A street musician in Paris - one of the many authentic experiences to be grateful for
As my plane lifts off from Paris, I reflect on how this three-week journey has revealed a natural rhythm of travel that mirrors the three-part breath:
- Week One: Inhale/Presence — Like the inhale that begins the breath cycle, the first week was about taking in the new environment, establishing presence, and building awareness.
- Week Two: Hold/Receptivity — The middle week paralleled the brief hold after inhaling, a time of receptivity when I could absorb the deeper offerings of each location.
- Week Three: Exhale/Gratitude — The final week functioned as the exhale, a time of expressing appreciation and preparing to release the experience while retaining its essence.
This framework has transformed what might have been simply a pleasant vacation into a profound journey of growth and insight. By consciously engaging with each phase—presence, receptivity, and gratitude—I've experienced Paris not just as a collection of sights and activities but as a teacher and catalyst for inner development.
I realize that this three-part approach could be applied to any travel experience, or indeed to any significant life experience. The key is consciousness—bringing awareness to how we engage with new environments and experiences, how we open ourselves to receive their gifts, and how we express gratitude as we integrate these gifts into our ongoing lives.
As the coastline of France recedes beneath the clouds, I make a commitment to bring this consciousness to future journeys, whether across oceans or simply across town. The practices I've developed in Paris—breath awareness, receptive observation, and grateful acknowledgment—are portable tools that can transform any experience into an opportunity for growth and appreciation.
And so my Paris meditation journey concludes, not with an ending but with a beginning—the start of a more present, receptive, and grateful approach to life itself. For this transformation, I offer one final breath of deep appreciation to the City of Light.
Coming next month: "Bringing Paris Home: Integrating Travel Insights into Daily Life" - I'll share how I'm applying the meditation practices developed in Paris to my everyday environment, finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.