Joie de Vivre
13
The Joy of Living Defined
by Empress Ashaki
"Joie de Vivre" or "Joie de Vie" is a French phrase which is translated as "the joy of living." Since the French coined the phrase, I thought the best way to define it would be by having a look at how they experience it.
The French take pleasure in the simple things in life...the beauty is in the details. They don't just take pleasure in the simple things, they prioritize them! In France, most shops close for three hours for lunch. This may be due to the fact that the French savor their food. A meal can be up to five courses with each course being drawn out to enjoy the flavors and conversation with friends and family. Most people in France eat at home more in order to enjoy family.
Beauty is much appreciated in France, even over comfort. Remember, the French take pleasure in the simple details of life, so beauty can be found in a flower, a painting, food, or a woman. The point is, they take time to enjoy these things.
It is also not considered a shame to do nothing and enjoy life ; France is still a "bistro" civilization where people spend time talking. There is also less social pressure than in the USA on people who do not work! Pleasure is neither guilt nor labor! The French have an impressive number of vacation days. The legal minimum for all employees is 5 weeks a year but very often it can go as high as 8 weeks or more, particularly due to the effect of the 35-hour-a-week law.
In addition to vacations, the French have 11 days of holidays ("jours fériés") a year ; most companies are closed and public services (museums, etc..) are minimal. Most, if not all, shops are closed on these days.
The French sometimes get labeled as lazy because of this, but studies have shown that even though they work the fewest hours of any country, their productivity is 20% higher and the gross domestic product per capita is also higher than Americans...and the French have a high standard of living!
There's clearly something to be said for having a joy of living...something to which employers might want to pay attention. Until employers around the world adopt a 35 hour work week with a minimum 5 week vacation mandate...or you move to France, here are some simple ways to add Joie de Vivre to your life.