“I don’t think there is much else in life that makes me happier or is a greater source of joy to me than celebrating love, accepting it and taking the time to celebrate it.”
Marie Robert, philosopher, writer and creator of the Instagram account @philosophyissexyA radiant, dedicated woman with a tireless zest for life. Marie Robert shares the secret of her daily little pleasures.
When was the last time you burst out laughing?
The last time I burst out laughing was yesterday when my son saw a trombone and exclaimed “wow!”, as if it were the most extraordinary thing he had ever seen. Needless to say, I found it so funny to think: “what a life lesson – to be able to rave about a trombone” (laughs).
What’s your ode to joy?
Mine would be more of an ode to love. I don’t think there is much else in life that makes me happier or is a greater source of joy to me than celebrating love, accepting it and taking the time to celebrate it. Realising just how miraculous the power to love is – it’s extraordinary.
Who has brightened your day?
A former student I hadn’t heard from in several years. She has become an incredibly fulfilled young woman who had the courage to study architecture despite a somewhat difficult time at school. When I saw her there, I thought: joy isn’t just a matter of immediacy – sometimes you have to let things fall into place and have faith.
What place makes you feel good?
The seaside, anywhere! Whether it’s the Atlantic or the Mediterranean. I also have a special connection to the city of Marseille, where there’s a special place: Malmousque. I’ve been going there for 10 years and every time I get lost, but there’s always this one place where, boom, the sea is right in front of you.
What’s the secret to your glow?
To keep myself glowing, I try to listen to my needs. Sleep and time to myself are my essential needs. Being able to exercise, stretch and read a bit of poetry is a ritual that helps me glow. Listening to my needs allows me to try to shine, to give and to share my knowledge, because I’ve kept that private space.
Marie Robert uses the “Joie” ritual to restore her radiance and give her a feeling of well-being.
"The joie range particularly appealed to me. Of course, there's the elegance of the box and the colour of the cream, a soft pink that invites you to take it easy. But it's when you open it that the magic happens: you're plunged into citrus fruits, into this Mediterranean effervescence that sparkles, engages and immediately puts a smile on your face. The melting texture caresses the skin, offering an astonishing experience: the comfort of being yourself."
For some people, philosophy is the most difficult subject at school, but Marie Robert makes it accessible to as many people as possible by sharing her thoughts on themes close to her heart, such as joy here:
This is joy. It’s a burst of light on a spotless sheet. A smile to a stranger. It’s a fabric that caresses your forearm. An unexpected phone call. It’s a surprise that makes your heart leap. A memory that stirs. It’s overcoming a challenge. The thrill of a reunion. It can be gentle or fierce. Quiet or loud.
This is joy – one of the most precious emotions in life. People say that it’s more fleeting than happiness, more superficial than optimism, less sensual than pleasure. Sometimes they reduce it to a moment that vanishes as soon as it appears. But what would life be without joy? What would our daily lives be without that spark? Whether big or small, joy is a bulwark against weariness, boredom, sadness and dejection. It envelops and motivates us. It comforts us and encourages us to be present, to cherish the moment, to pay attention to details.
Spinoza’s Ethics presents the fascinating idea that the right decision should bring us joy, as if joy were our guide, as if it, and it alone, were a beacon that guides us in the dark. Joy isn’t a lesser emotion. It’s a treasure. It’s proof that courage is winning, that we’re in tune with who we are, and most importantly, that we’re in the right place. Joy is an impulse. It’s proof that the world is constantly reinventing itself, teeming with possibility and ambition.
So isn’t it time to foster it? To pay tribute to it? And to preserve it? Let’s make joy our horizon, let its sweetness wash over us, wrap ourselves in its wake. Let’s make it our most urgent enterprise, because it’s a massive “yes” to life. Imagine if joy could be seen on faces.
You can find Marie Robert on her Instagram account: @philosophyissexy
PROPOSED BY
Léa
06/09/24
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