Bring the Spirit of Paris to Your Life

I can now say from firsthand experience that there is a reason that Paris has such a reputation of being a city of romance. The dazzling lights, the food, the art and music, the charming shops and street scenes – it's all very enriching for the soul.

But as wonderful as the experience is, it is even richer when you are able to share it with someone you care about. It's true what they say: Paris is for lovers.

The same goes for Barcelona and Venice. Everywhere Shelli and I have gone on this trip we have been surrounded by life-affirming beauty and abundance and compelling examples of living history, and that has given us a deeper appreciation of everything we have – including each other. The memories from these two weeks will stay with us forever.

But of course, it's people who create environments, so there's no reason why we can't all bring some of the magic of these romantic cities into our everyday lives if we choose to.

Sure, you can't duplicate the majestic spectacle of the Eiffel Tower at night or the experience of gliding in a gondola along a canal in Venice.

But you can do things to capture the spirit of these places, and the feelings of romance and inspiration they evoke, whether it's at home with the people you love, or at work with the people you serve and the team that supports you.

I know of one dentist who has a bell that he rings when he has completed a particularly noteworthy case. Everyone in the practice gathers around when they hear the bell and they congratulate the patient and celebrate the completion of this work of art. Many practices make it a point to celebrate birthdays and significant events in the lives of the team members and patients. And I don't mean just signing a card; I mean taking a timeout to really acknowledge and celebrate the person.

You can create an environment that nourishes and nurtures the best in people. You can reserve time with those closest to you and use it to appreciate what you have together. You can bring a little bit of the romance of Paris to your life, every day.