Bonjour! Welcome to Fiercely Human
Hi, I’m Marie-Louise
artist, writer, philosopher, and mindfulness educator.
I live in Aix-en-Provence, a luminous city in the South of France that endlessly inspires my work.
A lifetime ago, I studied philosophy and earned a master’s degree in Ethics. In time, I traded academic rigor for creative inquiry and, after many turns and trials, found my way to a life shaped by intention, texture, and sometimes colourful chaos. I’m also the mother of four daughters, ages 10 to 21, who remind me daily that creativity and the unexpected often share the same breath.
Over the years, I’ve lived in three countries (including China), moved fifteen times, and raised my girls to be both bilingual and brave. As a child of colonialism, on both sides of history, I hold multiculturalism, tolerance, and open-mindedness close to heart. You may find me writing about belonging, identity, and the challenges of finding our place in the world.
When I’m not writing essays and poems here or painting in my studio, I guide mindfulness and creativity workshops, exploring how awareness can transform the way we see and create.
I See You
You walk through life with an absurd, wild, and delicious sensitivity. You long for connection without compromising what matters most. It can be a lonely place, and even though you don’t dread solitude, you sometimes wish for a place to rest, even just for your head and heart.
I want you to exhale when you arrive here — a long, grounding sigh of relief.
I hope these words and images offer you solace, a sense of being seen and understood amid the quiet struggles and wild turns of being human.
By sharing my mindful approach and the lens through which I see our shared experience, I hope to offer perspective — to widen the view a little — so that you, too, can move through your own thresholds with grace, curiosity, and resilience.
Let’s Keep in Touch
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For a calm, ad-free reading experience (and access to audio and community features), you can also read via the Substack app.
Many of my essays are free to read. You may choose to support my work financially — even for just a month — and it would mean the world to me.
This space is, at heart, an offering, a conversation between our shared tenderness and our fierce longing to live fully.
Thank you for being here, for reading, and for bringing your humanity with you.
