Saying Oui to Me
If you’ve been following along, you may have noticed a pattern: each week I’m setting intentional goals. Some are simple. Some are uncomfortable. Some feel a little scary—the kind of things I don’t normally jump right into. This week’s goal fell squarely into that last category.
This week, I decided to reclaim a lost dream.
I have always wanted to learn French. There’s something undeniably romantic and beautifully mysterious about the language. Years ago, when I was young and newly married, I actually started studying French in college. At the time, my husband was busy stacking degrees while I was the one bringing in steady income. Still, I wanted something just for me, so I enrolled in French at a local community college.
It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was hard. But it was fascinating. I made it through the first semester, and then life intervened. I became pregnant during the second semester and was so sick and exhausted that I had to drop out. I never went back.
That unfinished chapter stayed with me. I’ve visited France many times since then—once even traveling through the country alone—and every time I wished I really knew the language. Not the awkward, phrasebook version. Not the country-bumpkin American butchering words and hoping for mercy. I wanted fluency. Or at least something close.
Now I’m at a stage of life where it no longer makes sense to let intimidation decide what I do or don’t try. So this week, I began learning French again.
I started small. Very small.
I downloaded Duolingo. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a free app where you can learn almost any language in short, game-like lessons—often in under ten minutes a day. It removes the heaviness from something that normally feels overwhelming and replaces it with curiosity and play.
Once I got going, I leaned in a bit more. I explored online options and found countless free YouTube videos. Then I stumbled across The Open University in the UK, which offers entire online courses—completely free. I signed up immediately and dove in. I started learning about the history of the French language, how it connects to Spanish, Italian, and even English, and how many words we already share. It has been genuinely fun.
Of course, I couldn’t stop there. I added flash cards—because of course I did. Amazon has some wonderfully practical options, along with some charming travel-focused ones that feel especially motivating. There are countless books available as well.
I know learning a language is a long-term endeavor. But now that I’ve started, it no longer feels scary. What once lived in the shadowy territory of regret now feels approachable. I’m discovering that reclaiming lost dreams doesn’t require grand gestures—just the courage to research, choose a path, and begin.
Nelson Mandela famously said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” For me, this isn’t about being “done.” It’s about being brave enough to try.
This weekend, we’re in the middle of a snowstorm where I live. And yet, I feel content. I have meaningful things to work toward, new goals forming, and more of myself to explore. I’m learning that courage often shows up quietly—in small, steady steps.
Great distances are covered that way. Joy and freedom don’t happen by accident. They’re fought for. Created. Built.
And this week, I’m deeply satisfied knowing I’m building something good. I am no longer saying wait, or no, I am now saying Oui!
