I’m currently spending a month in Montreal, Quebec. Previously, I’ve only spent a day and a half in Montreal, split over two separate visits. I’m really enjoying exploring the various neighbourhoods and hitting tourist hotspots while also living like a local.
Montreal is a city of festivals and food, and summer is a great time to be here. The Montreal International Jazz Festival just finished, and Just For Laughs is about to begin, plus the summer calendar boasts cultural food festivals all around the city.
Canada is a bilingual country (English and French), and while English is the first language in most provinces, French comes first in Quebec. Being here feels like you could be in France. Boulangeries dot the streets, cheese shops offer a variety of Quebec cheeses, and cafes serve my favourite pain au chocolat (called chocolatine here), which are as good as any I’ve enjoyed in Paris (and I’ve enjoyed many!)
Montreal has a laid-back vibe. Parks are filled with couples, young families, and groups of all ages enjoying the sun, shade, and laissez-faire-ness that seems inherent to French culture everywhere. The pedestrianized Ave Mont-Royal is lined with shops and restaurants that spill onto the street. Extra-long picnic tables are available to sit at with friends or meet new people, as you lick your ice cream or eat your take-away food, like the world-famous Montreal bagels, Montreal smoked-meat sandwiches, traditional Québécois sugar pie, and, of course, the famous gravy & cheese curd-laden french fries known as poutine; a surprisingly delicious heart attack on a plate. 😉 But, it’s not all about the food (though a lot of it is).
Exploring Montreal, or anywhere, even your hometown, doing something you wouldn’t normally do, or visiting places you’d only get around to if relatives came to stay, shifts something within you. It opens you up to more. You may see things in a new way, be inspired, and feel inspired.
There’s a freedom in experiencing something new or different. But it can take courage to do it, or even to start.
Stepping out of your comfort zone, whether it’s regarding travel or starting a new life path or chapter, can make you feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, and scared. You likely have more worries than certainties, and that’s okay. That’s normal.
The question is:
Is your fear of stepping out of your comfort zone keeping you from all you want to do, experience, or who you’re meant to be?
You’re GREATER than you think you are.
It’s your time. And it’s your turn.
P.S. After almost 5 years of living like a nomad, I know how to move through comfort zones with much more comfort. Let’s chat.
Join me on July 23, 2026 in the beautiful Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario. We meet in a historic log cabin on the shores of Balsam Lake as you discover how to hear and trust your inner guide. Choose from the half or full-day event.
Learn More & Register HERE.