This article resonated deeply with me Jane, on many levels. For years my family and friends have commented how completely different I sound and act when speaking French. Admittedly, I very much like my French voice! My other voices (in particular the writer, the poet, the recipe writer) have been very quiet the last 5 years. I hadn’t thought about it much beyond noticing the silence, but now… I’ll be taking a closer look. Merci Jane!
Oh, Marie, thank you for reading! I'm so glad it connected us! I wasn't sure where this post was going, but I just felt compelled to talk about it. And how beautiful that you have all of these different voices that make up the fabulous Marie! I'd love to hear them all!
Love this, Jane - so fascinating! Especially this bit "FYI - A fascinating article from Psyche Today suggests that people often take on a slightly different personality when speaking another language. (Science says: language activates different brain regions, shifts body language, and even alters decision-making styles.)" I, too, find I feel like a different person when I am speaking French (in France as opposed to the classroom), it's nice to have that different hat to wear sometimes!
Realising that having all of these different voices was completely normal was a relief! We always have the question of whether we are being authentic---and we are in many different ways. Including my very direct French Jane =)
What a great article! I've just returned to Paris after a few years in Finland and I'm trying to reconnect with my French voice. Finnish culture and French culture are so different that it's taking a little longer to come back than I'd expect. I'm sure it'll be back soon though!
Welcome back Audrey! My gosh I can only imagine what a change that is in culture! Now you can pick and choose the best of both worlds! Have a wonderful time settling back in!
This was wonderful. Thank you Jane. And what an interesting prompt 😏. And I’m thinking as well that perhaps one of our voices is silence. Silence to listen and absorb. To feel. And there is still the internal voice all the while, where we consider it all? Stay safe ❤️
Susan! What a beautiful reflection! Yes indeed, Silence is probably the most powerful voice we have! I love that. And yes - the forever talkative inner voice: the id, the ego, the super ego… To discuss all our voices over wine one day =)
Throughout this entire article, I found myself saying out loud, "yes!". You write so much truth here Jane. Although I don't speak a second language (very well anyway, and can you believe my brother is a professor of linguistics?!), writing has become a type of language for me, much like food was for me while working as a chef and culinary instructor. But when I began writing about food, I kept to the business of things and left my voice out of it. Well, that didn't last long. I couldn't help myself, I found that writing unleashed someone inside that had been waiting to emerge all along. Unfortunately, some of my readers weren't so thrilled about my new found voice. But it fuels my soul, and so I continue to write my truth. Thank you so much for this beautifully written and thought provoking article!
Karista I am over the moon! So glad to know it spoke to you! Writing is absolutely a language - one of the fun things I am discovering through this newsletter. I'm so thrilled you brought your voice in - and I know it is beautiful! And I tell you what, good riddance to those readers - the same thing has happened to me. Just because I am in Paris doesn't mean I will talk about scarves, croissants, and Eiffel towers. There are a few more important things we need to discuss. And MY people will appreciate it - just like yours will too. Keep on doing what you are doing!
I love that we’re always on the hunt to "find our voice" as if it were hiding somewhere. I am in the same boat as you now and I feel like a detective searching for clues in the deep corners of my mind through writing. Your voice (all of them) are so beautiful! Keep investigating 🧐
This is wonderful and so thought prompting, prompt! I appreciate that it’s ok to have different voices, each authentic and which make up each of our own mosaic of ourselves. This allowed me to see myself more clearly and I appreciate you for sharing this perspective as it has helped me find the voice to explain the differences. Thank you! 💌
This article resonated deeply with me Jane, on many levels. For years my family and friends have commented how completely different I sound and act when speaking French. Admittedly, I very much like my French voice! My other voices (in particular the writer, the poet, the recipe writer) have been very quiet the last 5 years. I hadn’t thought about it much beyond noticing the silence, but now… I’ll be taking a closer look. Merci Jane!
Oh, Marie, thank you for reading! I'm so glad it connected us! I wasn't sure where this post was going, but I just felt compelled to talk about it. And how beautiful that you have all of these different voices that make up the fabulous Marie! I'd love to hear them all!
A very relevant post for many of us!
Hopefully we’ll get a chance to connect now that I’m back living in Paris.
Love this, Jane - so fascinating! Especially this bit "FYI - A fascinating article from Psyche Today suggests that people often take on a slightly different personality when speaking another language. (Science says: language activates different brain regions, shifts body language, and even alters decision-making styles.)" I, too, find I feel like a different person when I am speaking French (in France as opposed to the classroom), it's nice to have that different hat to wear sometimes!
Realising that having all of these different voices was completely normal was a relief! We always have the question of whether we are being authentic---and we are in many different ways. Including my very direct French Jane =)
I loved this episode, Jane. I am so glad you became a writer. You and the world are better for it!
Thank you so much dear @Cynthia Morris ! It’s certainly something I am loving - appreciate you following along with me!
What a great article! I've just returned to Paris after a few years in Finland and I'm trying to reconnect with my French voice. Finnish culture and French culture are so different that it's taking a little longer to come back than I'd expect. I'm sure it'll be back soon though!
Welcome back Audrey! My gosh I can only imagine what a change that is in culture! Now you can pick and choose the best of both worlds! Have a wonderful time settling back in!
This was wonderful. Thank you Jane. And what an interesting prompt 😏. And I’m thinking as well that perhaps one of our voices is silence. Silence to listen and absorb. To feel. And there is still the internal voice all the while, where we consider it all? Stay safe ❤️
Susan! What a beautiful reflection! Yes indeed, Silence is probably the most powerful voice we have! I love that. And yes - the forever talkative inner voice: the id, the ego, the super ego… To discuss all our voices over wine one day =)
Throughout this entire article, I found myself saying out loud, "yes!". You write so much truth here Jane. Although I don't speak a second language (very well anyway, and can you believe my brother is a professor of linguistics?!), writing has become a type of language for me, much like food was for me while working as a chef and culinary instructor. But when I began writing about food, I kept to the business of things and left my voice out of it. Well, that didn't last long. I couldn't help myself, I found that writing unleashed someone inside that had been waiting to emerge all along. Unfortunately, some of my readers weren't so thrilled about my new found voice. But it fuels my soul, and so I continue to write my truth. Thank you so much for this beautifully written and thought provoking article!
Karista I am over the moon! So glad to know it spoke to you! Writing is absolutely a language - one of the fun things I am discovering through this newsletter. I'm so thrilled you brought your voice in - and I know it is beautiful! And I tell you what, good riddance to those readers - the same thing has happened to me. Just because I am in Paris doesn't mean I will talk about scarves, croissants, and Eiffel towers. There are a few more important things we need to discuss. And MY people will appreciate it - just like yours will too. Keep on doing what you are doing!
Thank you so much Jane!
💕💕💕
Merci Debora!
I love that we’re always on the hunt to "find our voice" as if it were hiding somewhere. I am in the same boat as you now and I feel like a detective searching for clues in the deep corners of my mind through writing. Your voice (all of them) are so beautiful! Keep investigating 🧐
Thank you, dear Olivia - it's a fun treasure hunt - and one that I guess will never end! Loving reading about your treasure hunt of travels!
This is wonderful and so thought prompting, prompt! I appreciate that it’s ok to have different voices, each authentic and which make up each of our own mosaic of ourselves. This allowed me to see myself more clearly and I appreciate you for sharing this perspective as it has helped me find the voice to explain the differences. Thank you! 💌
I love your clown car reference. I love that I know you are going to write a second book. I can’t wait.