Description
The road to true contentment is a chosen journey. Our enjoyment of life expands and deepens based on being courageously open to possibility and tenaciously becoming fully human. Living mindfully in the present steadies us as we pursue true contentment and live peacefully in our everydays, engaging with love, openness, presence, and kindness.
With the story of how she arrived at her cottage home, which she calls Le Papillon (The Butterfly), Shannon Ables focuses on understanding ourselves and the world, and on living everyday with true contentment. Each person’s journey and discoveries will determine their unique destination, whether a place or something intangible.
Living a life of contentment in our everydays opens us to vast possibilities, grounding our lives, relationships, and engagement with the world in peace, starting from within and elevating the quality of our lives. We cultivate contentment by:
- Trusting our journey and engaging fully as our true selves.
- Learning to understand our minds and emotions, and to interact well with others.
- Letting go of expectations and remaining open to the unknown.
We become able to savor daily moments — sipping a hot cuppa as the sun rises; sharing loving exchanges with a partner, child, friend, colleague, or neighbor; delighting in the evanescent gems Mother Nature bestows.
If we insist on knowing how our life journey will unfold, we disrupt the potential for magic to occur. And rather than wait for something “better,” something “more,” we invest in the present moment. We participate rather than demand, celebrate rather than control. We become love rather than wait for love.
In The Road to Le Papillon, Shannon tells intimate, never-before-shared, pivotal life stories that brought her to Le Papillon. With nods to the inspiration she finds in the French and British cultures, she lays out an array of skills and ahas, many new, others shared in her first two books, Choosing the Simply Luxurious Life and Living the Simply Luxurious Life, and on her blog The Simply Luxurious Life and her podcast The Simple Sophisticate.
The book is organized by theme. Each daily entry concludes with a call to action and a petit plaisir (a simple everyday luxury). Readers are urged to explore further with suggestions for reading or listening, or tips for the amateur gardener and chef.
- 494 pages
- A Daily Entry for 366 days of the year, paired with a unique Petit Plaisir and suggested TSLL post for further reading
- 14 Custom Illustrations by Sarah Löcker
Simply Luxurious –
A daily indulgence for peace of mind and body.
“The Road to Le Papillon is not your usual book of daily meditations, it is filled with ideas to implement in life to work towards contentment with doable actions.
Shannon Ables is a true Francophile and Anglophile with lovely ideas to help find your own “true north” and enhance your everyday life. Each daily meditation is followed by a treat which she calls a Petit Plaisir to complement the meditation…a book, a selection of music, a recipe, or just an idea. Also included in each meditation is the opportunity to Explore Further by linking to a related post from The Simply Luxurious Life blog where thoughts and ideas are expanded upon even more.
If you are looking for a way to enjoy life more I recommend this book. Reading my daily meditation is a true indulgence that I look forward to treating myself to each day and I am sure you will enjoy it too.”
—P.K.B. (US, 3/2/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
Inspiration for a more contented, intentional life.
“If, like me, you are someone who already partakes in the Simply Luxurious way of living, via Author Shannon Ables blog, previous books, podcast, newsletters, and even her Instagram, you will find this book to be a treasure trove of the inspirational and thought-provoking insights Shannon so often provides. As well as 366 of those much-loved petit plaisirs! But, even better you can hold this in your hands and return back to them again and again.
If you are someone just dipping your toes into the Simply Luxurious waters, or are seeking a book that provides not just daily platitudes, but thought provoking discussion points, questions to make you really consider ways to take each meditation forward into your life, as well as plenty of inspiration as to how to add a little simple luxury to each day, I thoroughly recommend this book. That is if you are seeking daily inspirations as to how to cultivate the life you TRULY want to lead.
The book is divided into the 12 months, with each month focussed on a particular theme, for example May (possibly my favourite month in the book) has the theme of Mother Nature. Each meditation cleverly considers how the lessons we can learn and appreciate from natures beauty can be applied to every day. As well as lots of wonderful references to the English countryside, cottage gardens and the joy of gardening (OK I may be biased, as I love to garden!) Each months theme provides lessons to ponder on, offering skills and methods to increase the contentment in our lives, as well as more insight into Shannon Ables’ own journey and how she herself learnt and applied the lessons presented.
I was privileged to receive an advanced copy of the book to read, and thoroughly enjoyed it, unable to put it down. However, I intend to revisit each dated meditation daily, consider the questions posed and inspiration provided, and enjoy the days recommended little pleasure. Additionally, Shannon helpfully provides a way to explore the subject of the entry further with a link to a relevant post on her blog.
With a focus on being more consciously present day to day, savouring the little pleasures we can cultivate and bring to our lives (with little to no spending necessary) all whilst taking steps towards our goals and dreams, this book is a worthwhile resource to accompany your own journey.”
– Sarah H. (UK, 3/1/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
Inspiring and Comforting!
“Reading Shannon’s book is like having a conversation with a dear and wise friend. Her writing is personable and relatable, and in the chaos of life, a daily meditation (or two!) from her book is calming, reassuring and inspiring. The content does indeed lead one toward contentment, as I felt my blood pressure lower the more I read, and I chose to read her meditations before bed for that purpose. Shannon’s journey inspires one to elevate their own and I highly recommend the read. Whether you’re searching for contentment, looking to elevate your life, or enjoy reading about inspiring people you won’t be disappointed!”
— Joy R. Hambrick (US, 3/2/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
Exceptional life enhancing.
“What a wonderful book! I found all the ideas, personal reflections, and advice so inspiring. Shannon’s message of living a life of contentment and savoring the everyday little things is truly the only guide to one’s life you’ll ever need. Each daily meditation takes you on a journey that calls you to action while at the same time slowing you down to reflect and think about what is most beneficial for your soul. This book touched me by the vulnerability and the genuine wisdom it imparted. A must-read!”
— Dani (Canada, 3/1/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
Life enhancing ?
“This is Shannon’s third book, and it doesn’t disappoint!
It is filled with intriguing ideas on how we can add simple pleasures to every day, to increase our ‘Joie de Vivre‘
The book is organised into months, each chapter has a different theme for reflection.
There are daily entries, with suggestions on how we can deepen our self knowledge and understanding to be able to enhance our contentment and live well.
Shannon offers a thought for a ‘petite plaisir‘ at the end of each day’s entry, and ideas for us to be able to explore further, with links to previous articles from her blog, ‘The Simply Luxurious Life‘
She shares her own journey to ‘Le Papillon‘, her home in Bend, Oregon, throughout the book, as well as offering a wealth of suggestions on music, recipes, books, decor and gardening.
There is an excellent quick guide to the books and music she has recommended, which makes it easy to cross reference and explore further if you wish to.
This is a lovely book……you can dip in and out of it, choosing the chapters and entries which ‘speak‘ to you, read it straight through from beginning to end, or read a little each day, following the daily entries.
I was fortunate to be able to read an advanced copy, and I really enjoyed it, this is a book which encourages us to reflect on our lives, and suggest simple pleasures which can enhance every day.
If you haven’t ‘met‘ Shannon before, you are in for a treat!
Loved it!”
— Anne W. (UK, 3/1/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
A simple joy!
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2022
I have recently added reading Shannon Able’s newest book, The Road to Le Papillon, as a simple joy in my comfortable morning routine. This insightful, loving book of daily meditations guides one to ponder a new thought, consider a perspective, or just smile in response to Shannon’s friendly words. I ordered the e-book edition and was delighted to see the colorful, detailed illustrations. A petite plaisir is an added bonus each day bringing ideas for more simple joys to create a simply luxurious life!
—Janet Nicole, US (3/25/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
A Must Read
What a lovely book, whether you use it as daily inspirational reading, dip into the chapters that interest you, or read from beginning to end. Shannon tells her own story, and a universal story, about finding one’s unique way of living in the world. Highly recommended.
-Deborah Lindsay (3/30/22), Goodreads
Simply Luxurious –
Inspiration for finding the joy in each and every day
The Road to Le Papillon is a beautifully illustrated book that inspires you to find the joy in the everyday and seek out the simple pleasures that make each day something special. With daily motivational readings, “Petit Plaisirs”, and even a playlist, Shannon Ables inspires us all to live intentionally and fully all year long.
—Michelle Warren (3/31/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
Jam packed with inspiration
This book is just so lovely. Shannon has a unique voice that is both passionate and calming. You can read this all at once or daily. I am enjoying it as a daily read as it is so thoughtfully put together by season. Each month starts with a longer inspirational entry. There is so much depth in every daily meditation that I will read this year after year. She has so many fantastic recommendations for books, habits, podcasts, life lessons. Just adore this book so much.
—Trish (4/1/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
A Wonderful Book
The Road to Le Papillon is truly a wonderful read. Reading Shannon’s inspiring daily posts is like sitting down with a friend over a cup of tea and knowing that you will leave that conversation content and happy. Her words, both in this book and on her blog, are a reminder to enjoy life at your own pace, and to acknowledge both the good and bad events in our lives. When I read her words, I am reminded that while there may be days that I struggle through, each day is also an opportunity to better myself, to learn something new, and to grow. Her list of books and her petit pleasures are not to be missed as well. They are wonderful ways to treat yourself!
—N. Bartol, US (5/6/2022)
Simply Luxurious –
Authentic, inspiring, and motivating
This book is truly a gem. It is a guide on how to achieve contentment in our lives and savor every day. It is full of unique stories, advice, and wisdom. It is a page turner as there is a short story written for every day of a year. I personally read it as part of my evening ritual, to relax and enjoy. It can be read at the beginning of the day too as a daily practice of setting up for a perfect day and getting inspired and motivated. The author Shannon Ables is so incredibly wise and kind, the knowledge she has acquired through living her life authentically, seeking for fulfillment and being brave to share her talents is a true gift to the world.
—Gabi K. (3/10/2024)