At 79, Mary Jane, an 82-year-old yoga instructor, took a brave step in leaving her life behind in NYC. She adopted the free-spirited nature of the streets of Paris and pursued her passion. In December 2021, she traded the Manhattan madness. Today, she’s flourishing among the small, walkable, intimate neighborhoods of the capital of France. Mary Jane’s journey is an inspiring testament to following your dreams at any age—don’t wait to live your best life!
Mary Jane has been a daily practitioner of yoga for almost 30 years and attributes yoga to healing her mind and body in miraculous ways. Her steadfastness to all things wellness has been key. It has aided her adjustment to her new surroundings and lifestyle out in Paris. She’s based in that other busy capital, known for its breakneck speed. She perseveres through a schedule that keeps her connected and vibrant.
Since moving to Paris, Mary Jane has been living in a small one-bedroom flat in the Issy-les-Moulineaux suburb. At first, she thought about buying real estate in Paris but found the prices too high. She’s taken her new living arrangement in stride. It’s given her the opportunity to experience all aspects of city life, from culture to scenic beauty. “I’m still amazed by how pretty Paris is,” she remarked, highlighting her admiration for her new home.
Now, Mary Jane has a renewable Carte de Séjour residence permit which permits her to live legally in France. She intends to apply for French citizenship in a few years, even more for strengthening her connection to her adopted home. “People say, ‘Oh, at your age, it’s very courageous to move to France,’” she noted. “It’s not courageous. Courage means that you have fear. You might be scared, but you’re still capable of taking that action despite the fear. I wasn’t afraid.
Mary Jane brings a wealth of experience that includes nearly native fluency in Spanish. Beyond that, she has gained confidence in her spoken French, tackling the language-learning curve that comes with moving to a new country head-on. She wants people to understand that surviving everyday life takes more than just knowing a few words. “The fact that you can order in a restaurant, do your shopping and take public transportation doesn’t mean you can address the Assemblée nationale,” she said, emphasizing the need for continued learning and adaptation.
While Mary Jane is technically getting older, her increasing age isn’t really the issue. She’s still independent and self-sufficient. She’s collecting social security payments from all those years of hard work and living within her means through smart budgeting. “I get my social security payments. I worked hard for it,” she stated. Her business and financial sense gives her the freedom to live and thrive in Paris without worrying about money.
Mary Jane’s philosophy on aging is just as inspirational as her happy approach to life at home and abroad. “As long as we have our sight and our hearing, we can do this until we drop dead,” she remarked, illustrating her belief that life should be lived fully at any age. She lives this ethos out both in her work and in her personal life, from practicing yoga to discovering new parts of the city.
“I avoid doctors like the plague unless it’s for injury or things like that,” she explained. Her personal commitment to wellness as a yoga instructor supports her health and vitality.
Mary Jane has fully adopted her new life. She’s been pleasantly surprised by a few aspects of life in Paris, especially when it comes to producing enjoyable meals. “I find this very sad,” she said about her inability to find kale in neighborhood grocery stores. Her honesty with even the little irritations makes her adventure seem very real and accessible.
In the end, Mary Jane’s choice to move to Paris was about living with no regrets. “Ultimately, I knew that I didn’t want to say on my deathbed, ‘I always wanted to move to France but didn’t,’” she reflected on her motivations for relocating. This resolve guides her everyday life as she seeks and savors everything Paris has in store.
Mary Jane’s story is an encouragement, to be sure, to anyone thinking about making big changes in their life, no matter their age. She is a passionate lifelong learner and adventurer. This teaches us that it’s never too late to pursue our passions!
