For those of us who find ourselves spinning so fast that our life seems but a blur, we need to STOP and think about where we are and where we are heading. For those of us whose days blend into each other so much so that we can't distinguish one day from the next, we need to STOP and think about why each day of our life is the same. For those of us who find it difficult to do the things we always wanted or said we would do and never do them, we need to STOP and think about why we say things we want to do but never do them. For those of us who are so afraid to take the first step off the Island to change for the better, we need to STOP and ask ourselves, what are we afraid of? As the renowned American poet Maya Angelou says, "Life loves the liver of it." Are you a 'liver' of Life? You can use a unique thing such as learning to speak French fluently to enrich your life because it will expose you to experiences you would not have otherwise.

Robert Byrne states that, "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." We seem to live purposeless lives in our modern world. Life is about change. The 'liver' of life embraces change and remembers that we all have only one life to live and that time waits for no one. We all know this but so many of us live like prisoners trapped in our own quicksand of excuses and regrets. You have to realize that the answer to change is you. You can change your life and your world. Why couldn't you learn French and have that as a small purpose to take you onwards and upwards towards change. And why not learn how to speak French online instead of going to a language school? Remember that you must live in the present moment and live each step, big or small, difficult or easy, painful or joyful, and gradually you will discover that you can achieve great things such as the ability to learn French fluently. Even if you find a means to learn French vocabulary the easy way or attempt to learn French quickly at an immersion school in France, you will have to do the work. One step at a time you can get off your Island. Change is as subtle as learning to speak French.

Why learn to speak French fluently? It can be the catalyst that can accelerate the rate of change in so many aspects of your life by opening the doors to other cultures, peoples and lifestyles. When we are in a different environment we feel more alive and aware of ourselves especially when being exposed to another culture. What a refreshing change it would be to experience and discover the French countryside, the wine regions of Bordeaux, the cafés on the French Riviera, the landscapes of Provence or the white-sanded beaches of Martinique. Think of the many amazing French-speaking countries and cultures that are waiting for you to explore to lose yourself or reclaim yourself.

As William Lyon Phelps wisely states, "The fear of life is the favorite disease of the 20th century", I think this 'disease' is prevalent in the 21st century. This article is just a whim, a 'message in the bottle' for those of you who are willing to take the courageous leap into the ocean of life to wake up to life and feel the waves against your skin and taste the salt water on your tongue. Yes, change can be as elementary as learning a language such as French. Ultimately it boils down to you. You have to take charge and decide to take the first step and the many steps that follow towards self-fulfillment and a sense of purpose. Stop making excuses and start tomorrow. Now is the time to become a 'liver' of life. Now is the time to learn French to get off your Island and join the rest of the world.