A weekly dose of possibility and grounded action from Michelle & Kent of the Frenchitivity Family
This Week's Direction
Tradition, Memory & the Stories We Carry
As I write this, it is the 110th running of the Indy 500. As a native Hoosier, this is significant.
And, as I sit here listening to Back Home Again in Indiana and watching the fighter jets ascend over the 300,000-person crowd, I feel full of pride, nostalgia, and joy.
My family gathers for a family reuntion on race day as they have for generations.
I have fond memories of playing with my cousins, hearing the roar of the race in the background, and eating my mom’s famous brownie sheet cake — made only on race day and still one of those desserts that instantly brings back the feeling of childhood.
“Drivers, start your engines.”
Chills. Every time.
The sights.
The sounds.
The smells.
The memories.
This is tradition.
This is family.
This is identity.
This year, Curt Cignetti drove the pace car — another proud moment for Indiana after such an exciting year for IU athletics and a reminder of how deeply place, culture, and shared experience shape us.
And as Memorial Day weekend unfolds here in the United States, I also find myself reflecting with gratitude on those who have served and sacrificed to protect our freedom. Including my grandfather, who served multiple assignments in the U.S. Air Force.
In our podcast this week, we reflect on our time in Malta — a place layered with military history and stories of resilience across generations.
Travel has a way of awakening that awareness in me.
History suddenly feels less abstract.
More human.
More connected.
Kent and I often talked during our travels about how “young” America feels compared to many places throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, where history surrounds you constantly — ancient walls, cathedrals, fortresses, traditions, stories passed through generations.
And as America approaches its 250th anniversary, I find myself reflecting more deeply on legacy.
What are we carrying forward?
What can we learn from other cultures and nations?
What can we learn from our own ancestors?
Perhaps that is part of what travel and tradition both invite us to do:
To remember.
To reflect.
To recognize how interconnected we all really are.
And to become more intentional about the stories, values, and traditions we continue carrying forward ourselves.
🎙️In Conversation
🎧 The Frenchitivity Podcast, Episode 20: Magical Malta
This week on the Frenchitivity Podcast, we reflect on our time in Malta — a place that delighted us with its warmth, layered history, coastline, Christmas spirit, and slower Mediterranean rhythm of life.
In this episode, we share:
- what made Malta feel so unique
- family moments we’ll never forget
- reflections on history and culture
- and why this small island left such a lasting impression on us
👉 Listen to the episode here: Episode 20: Magical Malta
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🧭 Free Malta Travel Guide
We also created a free Malta Travel Guide to accompany this week’s episode.
Inside, we share:
- where we stayed
- favorite experiences
- practical travel notes
- family-friendly recommendations
- and the slower moments that made Malta so memorable for us
👉 Download the free guide here: Malta Travel Guide
🧭Compass Shift
This week, ask yourself:
What traditions or memories instantly bring me back to myself?
Maybe it’s:
- a holiday ritual
- a favorite recipe
- a song
- a gathering
- a summer tradition
- or simply the feeling of being together
Sometimes the moments that shape us most are the ones repeated quietly over time.
✨ Closing
As traditions continue unfolding around us, we hope you find space this week to reflect on the memories, values, and moments you’re carrying forward too.
We’re really grateful you’re here.
Michelle & Kent
Frenchitivity
Be bold with your one precious life.
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