Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

A short and sweet note this week, asking you to search for the one thing this week that may bring you joy.

I flew to an undisclosed location recently, so I could do things that I may wait to disclose until next week. While on the flight, I watched the lovely little film "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris." The story is about a sweet little old English cleaning lady who lost her husband to war, but held out hope he'd return. In the midst of this, her clients are walking all over her, either neglecting to pay or just taking advantage of her good nature. But one day, Mrs. Harris spies a Dior gown in her deadbeat rich person client's boudoir. She is overcome with glee at the sight of it and decides that she is going to do whatever it takes to come up with the money to have her own Dior gown too. Without spoiling too much, she comes up with the money and she makes it to Paris, where she heads over to the Avenue Montaigne and thinks "this is it. I have the money, so let me get my gown." It's not so simple as that. What is? Still, the story is charming and it's postwar Paris in all its technicolor glory, for God's sake, so what's not to love about that? What's not to love about having that once-in-a-lifetime experience of buying yourself a slice of beauty and joy in one of the most beautiful cities in the world?

Go watch "Mrs. Harris in Paris" if you're so inclined. It's so lovely, and delightfully corny, and you can't help but cheer for Mrs. Harris to get her dress, wear it, and paint the town all kinds of colors. You will smile. You might say aw. You might think that as long as you are alive, you will never take a recommendation from me again.

But I ask you to watch it, in part because I had my own little Mrs. Harris moment this week. No I did not buy a Dior gown, or even perfume. But when I saw what I saw, I had to have it, and I will introduce it to you next week as I take you on a tour of my newly rearranged office.

Sound good? I hope so. And I hope you all are hanging in there. Are you? Let me know.

Writing prompt: Either choose to write a story about the woman who would wear the red gown pictured above (seriously, who is she, where is she headed, tell me all about her and why this gown was the right one for the moment); or tell me about a time when you bought something that put a spring in your step and a smile on your face (what was it, how were you feeling before and why? How did you feel post-purchase?).

It's not always easy to do the right thing. But, doing the right thing makes you strong, it builds character, it forces you to make decisions based upon your beliefs and not what other people think. In life, and in business, you have to stand for what you believe in and sometimes you have to stand alone. But, what makes you a leader is having the courage of your convicitions.

--Queen Latifah

Endnotes

What I'm reading: George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris. Mariann Edgar Budde's How We Learn to Be Brave.

What is nice: Distance.

What I'm excited about: Miguel Almiron’s return to Atlanta United.

Where I hope you'll donate this week: Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading advocacy organizations in the U.S. dedicated to advancing and defending the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones. Please consider a gift to support their important – and timely – work.