I had the good fortune to visit Paris, France and Reykjavik, Iceland for about ten days during March. Both areas were an important study in contrast related to chi flow, feng shui, and the value of connecting with nature. Paris is a vibrant city and contrary to hearsay, I find Parisians to be warm and welcoming. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements or small neighborhoods.  The first arrondissement is the geographical center of Paris (located at Notre Dame) and each one spirals out clock-wise from the center.

We stayed in the 6th arrondissement or the area with Luxembourg Garden. One of the things I like about Paris is the "human scale" of many of the buildings. The typical height of about six to eight stories contributes to a feeling that you are walking around small neighborhoods, with many trees and public parks. Parisians live in smaller spaces than we are used to and spend a lot of time outside in the cafes and open spaces. Since spring arrives earlier in Paris than New England, the forsythia and early spring flowers were a welcome sight. Walking and cycling replaces the need for gym memberships. The high ceilings in many of the older buildings help the small rooms to feel more spacious.

Whereas the air in Paris was polluted during our visit (and the Metro was free as a result), Reykjavik felt refreshingly, pristine. The temperatures were similar to NH at this time of year with a lot less snow than we left behind. Iceland is a sparsely populated country (about 320,000 people) with much natural beauty. Many of the buildings have a Scandinavian look and feel. They are simple, colorful, small, and compact. Most of the homes and buildings use geothermal heat, with the average homeowner paying about $500 annually for heat and hot water. Tapping the natural heat of the earth makes so much sense.

While in Iceland, we enjoyed the natural healing waters of the geothermal springs at the Blue Lagoon, we saw a gorgeous waterfall and geyser, and ate some delicious GMO-free food. It was too cloudy to view the Northern Lights, so we'll make a return trip sometime.

Icelanders live with 20 hours of darkness at the peak of the winter months. They are rewarded by 24 hours of sunlight during summer. This is quite a contrast of dark and light. During the winter, their greenhouses are well-lit and kept warm using geothermal heat.

During our travels, I found myself wondering if clutter is a worldwide problem or primarily a North American one. When you live in smaller spaces, you have less "stuff" by necessity. I did not see any public storage centers, a business that continues to grow and thrive in the USA. Less is truly more. When you have less stuff to maintain, you can spend more time on experiences.

Paris and Reykjavik were certainly a study of contrasts, compared to each other as well as how we live in the USA. As you travel, tune in to your surroundings and identify what feels good. You can adapt the key principles to lift the chi of your own space when you return home.

I recently did an interview with Mary Roberts for her "College Launch" program on Carlisle, MA cable TV. Even though the focus is college dorm rooms, the key principles apply to all living and work spaces. Listen  to our discussion to learn more.