Joie de Vivre

Marie (68) from Clermont-Ferrand

When someone asks her about her life, Marie does not like to talk about it. She has experienced many things that she does not want to think about, now that she is old. Her wisdom is that the happiness of life only comes when you are ready for it. There is no more room for sad thoughts.

But Marie likes to talk about other things. About what she experiences in her everyday life. She wanders around a lot in the city where she has lived for many decades. For her age, the small, sinewy woman is still very fit. She cannot sit still at home. During the week, she helps out in a community centre and the library attached to it. On weekends, she likes to drift around the city.

Marie especially likes the city in spring. When life starts to sprout in all corners and colours, she cannot wait to slip into her sneakers and explore the bright world outside. The sun tickles her nose and provokes a sneeze. The pollen leaves a white layer of icing sugar on her light coat. Brussels has always given her a unique feeling of liveliness that she was not familiar with from her small hometown in France.

When Marie is not strolling through one of Brussels’ green spots, she can often be found in Marolles. In the trendy district, which has quickly gained popularity, especially among young people, the feeling of energy and joie de vivre is even greater than anywhere else in Brussels. The young people are often driven towards the more unconventional cafés and second-hand shops, in which it is too chaotic for Marie’s taste. Then again, Marie loves Marolles’ art galleries that give unknown Brussels artists an opportunity to sell their paintings. Here she likes to rummage for undiscovered treasures. Every now and then, she goes to one of the flea markets that set their stalls up in the streets in the early summer months. Her adventurous side reveals itself in search of treasures.

When the hustle and bustle of Marolles becomes too much for her, she swaps it for a weekly market. Here, too, many people are milling about on market day, in the midst of whom Marie feels chirpy. Unlike Marolles, however, everything is a little more moderate here. The people who go shopping here come because they want to take their time to shop. While a supermarket is just a means to an end, where people want to finish their shopping efficiently and without hassle, a market is a little oasis. Here, people examine the goods attentively before making a purchase decision.

When Marie needs a little rest, she likes to settle down on one of the benches at the Mont des Arts or take a leisurely stroll through the Parc de Bruxelles before plunging back into the hustle and bustle of the people.

For Marie, there is nothing better than spending her weekends this way. She likes to speak about the mishmash of feelings it provokes in her, of being energetic, alive and happy.