Dare to live the life you’ve dreamed? The Moment You’ve Dreamed all your life?

Sword In Your Eye Lyrics
The moment you've dreamed of so long has finally come
It's pounding so hard in your chest, get ready my son
Sixteen and strong as a lion, you are worthy to take on the fight
It will take less than an hour, and you'll be a hero tonight
Hold, scream, hit , kill
The power lies in unity
Strong hand, hard will
Ride down the hill

Beyond the stars
Through the raging fire
Reaching out to the sky
Tonight's the night
And you could walk through fire but
You get a sword in your eye
You'll be free from your pain and then
You'll hear a voice in your head
Tonight's the night
But you're no hero since you are dead
It feels so great in the saddle, fighters prepare!
And side by side rush to battle, but boy, be aware!
Your elbow gets pushed by your brother, you won't even score a kill
Some say you won't be remembered
But I think you surely will
Hit your own eye
The most pathetic way to die
Wrong move, bad sign
Short was your time

I’m a sucker for inspirational quotes. I Google “motivational quotes” (and images of pugs, just to make me laugh) when I’m having a rough day. I write out my favorites in pretty colors on index cards and stick them on my bathroom mirror. For the vast majority of quotes, I read them, enjoy them, am momentarily inspired and then move on.

However, I couldn’t quite shake a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

“Dare to live the life you’ve dreamed for yourself. Move forward and make your dreams come true.”

This forced me to take an honest look at my life. Was I living the life of my dreams? Great job in high-tech PR, amazing boyfriend, a close network of family and friends in Northern California.

But something was missing. I had always intended on studying abroad in France while I was in college, but I had a boyfriend, I had a position in my sorority, and then, suddenly, I was walking across the stage to accept my diploma.

Still, I desperately wanted to live in France, to speak French fluently, to embrace a life outside of my native California. As my relationship deteriorated and the lease on my not-so-fabulous apartment came up for renewal, I realized…if not now, then when?

Nice

And so I’m moving forward with the life I dreamed of: six months in Nice, France. A pain au chocolat and café crème to start my morning. Cobblestone streets and the sparkling Mediterranean just outside my window. A glass of wine next to a dinner made with ingredients fresh from the market in Old Nice.

I’m sure it won’t all be sunshine and rosé (but that doesn’t stop me from daydreaming about falling in love with a Frenchman and living happily ever after on the Cote d’Azur). I know I’ll encounter cultural differences, language barriers and homesickness. But that’s a risk I’m willing to take in this first step toward living my dream.

I hope you’ll all stick around and read about my adventures (officially beginning April 20), check out my recipes and learn more about life on the French Riviera.