In the second part of the A to Z of Becoming, we’ve reached the troublesome letter “X”! In the first part, I chose “eXcite“, and in this part I’m going for “eXtol” (yes, I know they both start with an “e”, but make me a suggestion – what verbs do you know actually start with an “x”?)
To extol means to praise….to enthuse about, to rave about, to passionately, lavishly praise. So, it struck me, how appropriate to be choosing a verb which means to praise this month.
What, or who, would you like to praise, and why?
I’ll start……
In April we visited one of the most beautiful villages in France – Saint Guilhem le Désert – it looks like this –
In this village we stumbled across a tiny perfumier run by man called Nicholas Jennings. Here he is –
Look behind him at his wonderful desk where he selects the various natural scents to make the products he sells in his shop.
At the door of the shop, he had a wonderful pendulum drawing intricate designs on sand. Nicholas and his friend, Ludovic make them.
So, now that I have my study set up in my house in France, I’ve got my own “pendule de sable” hanging in the window.
Look!
Isn’t it wonderful?
So, there’s one thing for me to “extol”! The amazing, totally absorbing, pendulum of the sand.
And while I’m at it, I can enthuse about Nicholas and his wonderful perfume shop, and the village where it is – Saint Guilhem le Desert.
The village is on one of the paths of the pilgrims to Compostella – you can know that from seeing the saint-jacques shells everywhere…..
There’s something else unique in this village, and that’s the dried “cardabelles” on the doors. This is now a protected plant, but the villagers can gather them in season. It’s believed to bring luck and protection.
So, as I set the pendulum in motion once more, I’m not only absorbed in the uniqueness of every single design it makes, but I remember Saint Guilhem le Desert, the cardabelles, the shells along the pilgrim’s way, and Nicholas and his shop.
See what joy can follow when you start to “eXtol” something?!
Your turn……….
Beautiful and enriching piece Bob – many thanks. David