Eat, Pray, Love

I love books. Since an very young age I have read.. and read.. and read. At our local library there was a limit to what you could check out EVERY time I went, I got the max. Like I said, I LOVE books.
My top 2 favorites of all time were 1. Gone with the Wind 2. Rebecca but number 2 just got bumped to #3. Eat, Pray, Love has taken the spot.
This book CHANGED my life.
It is about "One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia" but really that doesn't do it justice.. or explain it correctly.
Elizabeth Gilbert poured her heart into these pages and I soaked up every one of them.. at times it felt as if I was the one speaking from them.
She describes her marriage ending, but actually does not give much detail saying that story belongs to the couple. Which, I agree with. So many people have come up to me in the days since my divorce asking "What happened?" or "Why?"
Frankly, I want to know why anyone thinks they are entitled to this knowledge.. some may be asking out of concern, but others were just plain nosey. Those types, disgusted me to the tenth degree.
However, Gilbert does discuss when she realized she wanted out and some of what happened over the course of their separation and ultimate divorce. Although her pain was not mine and no two situations are alike.. I understood.. I felt.. I remembered..I relived..
She falls in love again, which any divorcee will tell you, the idea of that springs forth a hope you honestly didn't even think you had. Her relationship with "David" was so eerily familiar I got spooked for a moment. Because I can admit I found love again, my soulmate actually. But, like the other times I found love.. it did not want me in return. and like Liz mine sparked a move..

So, she starts out on her journey. I hate spoilers and I'm not here to give anything away.
She eats, she prays, and she loves. And, the process in which she goes about it all is so moving, that some of it literally took my breath away.
While I cannot afford the travels she made I felt as though I was along for the ride. while she ate in Italy.. I ate (alot of pasta I might add).
While she prayed in India..I prayed and dove deeper into my relationship with God. Gilbert never gives a specific mention to any one religion just that she is on a spiritual journey. I respected that and felt it was a door opening to my own spirituality.
and the Love.. she loved family and friends and even makes new friends.
All this I find myself doing more and more of...

I'm so grateful for the family I have and all their support. I have even managed to get closer to my sister.

My aunt gave me this little nugget once, "You'll find out who your real friends are once you get a divorce" Boy howdy was she right! I did, and my true friends have been with me through thick and through thin.. and even some old friends I'd lost touch with have become renewed friends.. THEY have ALL been such a blessing!

Then, there are the NEW friends.. I'm enjoying making those..
One in particular: Jen Martin was a woman who really intimidated me my first few months on the job (and if you know Jen you'd know why) However, I always had the utmost respect for her and liked working with her. Then, a simple email really changed how I saw her. It was a note.. not being nosey or too inquistive just a "hope you're doing ok" note and it resonated with me like no body's business. It was truly a sweet sweet gesture. And now I am so very proud to call her my friend!

I ADORE Eat, Pray, Love.. it's something I know I'll reread over and over again.
It may not be for everyone and I get that. but it fell right into my lap when I needed it the most and I'm grateful for it
And, I plan on actually seeing the movie...

So, if you pick up this book in hopes of blazing through it to see how it ends.. don't even bother picking it up. It's not about that.. it is about the journey and each turn of the page. Kind of like life is..


Song of the Day: Secrets and Made for You -One Republic